Smutz Closes Career at NCAA East Prelims

VU-Smutz-Closes-Career-at-NCAA-East-PrelimsValparaiso University senior Jacob Smutz (West Lafayette, Ind./Harrison) competed for the final time in a Crusader uniform on Thursday as he represented Valpo at the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Fla., competing in the hammer throw.

Smutz was one of48 qualifiers for one of the NCAA’s two regional rounds by virtue of a school-record toss of 204’11” earlier this season at the DePaul Invitational. Thursday saw Smutz record a best mark of 189’5” among his three attempts.

Smutz closes his time at Valpo among the Crusaders’ all-time best in a number of throws. Beyond his school-record mark outdoors in the hammer throw, Smutz also ranks second in Valpo history indoors in the weight throw and is second-best in program history outdoors in the discus throw.