This time of year is a special one for the Valparaiso University men's and women's track & field programs.
 
Indoor championship season is upon us, as the Beacons prepare to head to Indianapolis for the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships, which will be held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center.
 
"Whenever we get into championship season, it's always an exciting time of year," Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Vincent Walker said. "We watch our student-athletes train all fall, during winter break and throughout the indoor season, and this is where you see the work culminate. This is what we build toward during the regular-season meets. We're excited to have The Big Dance at the end to see where everyone is at, and there's always some excitement in the air this week. There's something magical about being on the bus and stepping on the track for the conference championship."
 
The Indoor Championships feature a new home this season after a four-year run of Valpo co-hosting the event at Gately Complex in Chicago.
 
"It's always fun to be in a new facility and new place," Walker said. "We enjoyed co-hosting the championship at Gately in recent years, and took a lot of pride in that. Now, we're excited to go down to the Fair Grounds, where they've hosted Division-II national meets and Big Ten Championships over the last couple years. It's a great facility, the track runs fast and we're eager to get on it and see how our athletes respond."
 
Junior AJ Walsh (Lombard, Ill. / IC Catholic Prep) is among the Valpo athletes to watch in the heptathlon. He is also going to compete in the men's long jump, where he currently ranks eighth in the league, and has a chance to score points in that event.
 
"He is a guy who lives and breathes track and field and training," Walker said. "He came out swinging in our first heptathlon of the year, but he did leave some points on the board in a few of his individual events there. He's spent time fine-tuning and honing his craft. Nothing comes easy in the MVC, but you'd be crazy to think he doesn't have a chance to be on the podium. He's a competitor who rises to the occasion and goes all in."
 
Another competitor to watch is true freshman Joey Yaros (Bloomington, Ill. / Normal Community), who has an opportunity to make the final of the men's mile.
 
"Joey has really found confidence in himself during the track & field season," Walker said. "During cross country, that transition from the 5k in high school to the 8k in college is tough. I told him to wait until you get to track, and he has lit up the world. In one of his first miles, he came out running 4:10 and evenly split it 2:05 / 2:05, which you don't see often from a freshman."
 
Yaros will run the 1,200-meter leg of the distance medley relay, followed by sophomore Ferdinand Rosa (Toa Alta, Puerto Rico / American Military Academy) on the 400 leg, junior Noah Meacham (Tulsa, Okla. / Broken Arrow) on the 800 and freshman Braden Hoff (New Lenox, Ill. / Lincoln-Way Center) bringing it home with the final 1,600. That group is a threat for a spot on the podium.
 
On the women's side, freshman Samantha Rowley (Barrington, Ill. / Barrington) burst onto the scene during cross country and has sustained her distance success since transitioning to the track.
 
"She came out in her first collegiate 6k and put herself as one of the top freshmen in the conference in that event," Walker said. "She was ninth in the 5k and ran a 10 flat in the 3k, another really impressive mark for a freshman. She's taken a training block the last three weeks. I wish everyone could see the way she's been training right now; your jaw will drop when you see the times she can put up at the conference championships. She is fun, competitive and loves competing and pushing herself to her limits."
 
Senior Alina Worzella (Martinsville, Ind. / Martinsville) had a 23-second PR in her first collegiate mile since her sophomore year, battling back from injuries this season.
 
"One thing that has changed with Alina is her mindset," Walker said. "She used to be nervous and timid before races. The way she has grown and matured has been a big reason why she's had those PRs. She's in a really good spot in the mile and is on the bubble as she tries to make the finals in that event."
 
Live coverage on ESPN+ will begin at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday and 10:15 a.m. CT on Monday. Events will begin at 8 a.m. on Sunday and 8:30 a.m. on Monday. Links to live video and results will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.