The Valparaiso University track & field team opened the outdoor season with a busy weekend of competition, as select athletes participated in the Raleigh Relays hosted by NC State in Raleigh, N.C., while others competed in Illinois State's Joyce Morton-Kief Invitational.
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How It Happened – Raleigh Relays
- Senior Brian Sponaugle (Milton, De. / Cape Henlopen) tossed the javelin 63.38m (207-11), becoming the first Valpo athlete to throw the jav over 200 feet since 2015 (Jeremy Getz, 212-9). Sponaugle's toss ranks second in program history.
- Freshman Samantha Rowley (Barrington, Ill. / Barrington) turned in a time of 36:27.51 in the 10,000m in her first career outdoor meet. She instantly put herself second in program history, recording Valpo's fastest time in that event since 1999 (Collette Liss, 33:26.21).
- Sophomore Kensington Black (Franklin, Ohio / Franklin Senior) completed the 3,000 steeplechase in 10:59.77, just off her PR that already ranks third in program history.
- Freshman Joey Yaros (Bloomington, Ill. / Normal Community) paced the Valpo men in the 1,500 with a time of 3:56.61 and in the 800 with a PR of 1:54.86.
How It Happened – Joyce Morton-Kief Invitational
- Senior Katie Koryczan (Crown Point, Ind. / Crown Point [Purdue Northwest]) had a long jump PR of 4.9m (16-1).
- In the 1500, sophomore Tyler Swartz (Warsaw, Ind. / Warsaw Community) had a 12th-place finish with a personal-best time of 4:12.94.
- In the sprints, senior Anthony Vassolo (Tinley Park, Ill. / Andrew) posted a top-10 finish by placing ninth in 11.14 seconds in the men's 100. He also placed 11th in the 200 at 22.57.
- In the pole vault, sophomore Sonny Hoekstra (Munster, Ind. / Munster) placed sixth of 10 at 4.23m (13-10.5). Â
Up Next
The Beacons will head to Terre Haute for Indiana State's Pacesetter Sports Invitational on Friday and Saturday of next weekend.
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