The Valparaiso men’s track and field teams took second (80.5 points) in the Windy City Invitational on Saturday at the University of Chicago.
Jacob Smutz (West Lafayette, Ind./Harrison) bettered his second best mark in Crusader history in the weight throw by almost three feet with his moonshot toss of 19.05m/62-6. He out threw runner up Jacob Frey (St. Paul, Minn./Roseville Area) by almost five and a half feet. Frey’s toss of 17.45m/57-3 put him in third place all-time at Valpo in the event.
Andrew Guzek (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) set a new personal best in the weight throw with his heave of 17.25m/56-7 – good for fourth best all-time at Valpo – as he took third, while also finishing in fourth in the shot put (14.12m/46-4).
The freshman duo Alexander Watson (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley) and Gabriel Williams (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard South) each took second in the pole vault (4.60m/15-1), and long jump (5.75m/18-10.5), respectively. Watson’s mark puts him at second all-time in Crusader history.
Elijah Owen (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) had three top-ten finishes on the day. In the long jump, he finished in a tie for fourth with teammate Colton Hill (Knox, Ind./Knox) with his leap of 6.03m/19-9.5, a new season best. He took ninth in the pole vault, tying his season best height of 3.85m/12-7.5 and crossed the line in 10.21 in the 60 meter hurdles for a tenth place finish.
Kevin Adamik (Elmhurst, Ill./York Community) had a pair of eighth place finishes in the 60mH (9.29) and in the long jump (5.75m/18-10.5).
In the 5000m, Max Morello (Plano, Ill./Plano) and Sidney Noble (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) took third and fourth, crossing the finish line in 16:08.56 and 16:15.03, respectively.
Jonathan Heagy (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) finished in sixth place in the high jump with his mark of 1.78m/5-10.
Over in day two at the Meyo Invitational at Notre Dame, sophomore Adam Bruno (Bloomington, Ill./Normal) clocked a 4:28.14 in the mile.
The Crusaders continue their season next weekend when they travel to Purdue University for the Fred Wilts Invitational. Live results will be available through ValpoAthletics.com for both days.