Valparaiso will host the 2007 Horizon League Cross Country Championships, one of two home meets for the Crusaders on the 2007 schedule as announced today by head coach Mike Straubel.

            The Crusaders will host the league championship event, the first Horizon League Championship for Valpo in any sport, at Sunset Hills Park on Saturday, October 27.  The men’s race will cover eight kilometers, while the women’s race will be contested over five kilometers.

            Valpo’s season will also kick off at Sunset Hills Park with the 19^th annual Crusader Open Friday, September 7.  The 4K women’s race will be held at 5 p.m., with the 6K men’s race to follow at 5:45 p.m.  The Crusaders will race three of the following five weekends in preparation for the Horizon League Championships. 

            The squad will split on September 14, with some runners heading to the Boston College Open while others compete at the Indiana Intercollegiates.  Valpo will then head to the Notre Dame Invitational on September 28 before wrapping up the regular season on October 13 splitting the team between the Evansville Invitational and the NCAA Pre-Nationals.

            The Crusaders will not have to leave the state of Indiana for postseason competition, as the NCAA Great Lakes Regional will be held November 10 in Bloomington.  Any runners who qualify out of the regional for the NCAA National Championships will compete at the national meet November 19 in Terre Haute.

            The Crusader women are led by junior Laura Rolf (Rochester Hills, Mich./Lutheran Northwest).  Rolf is a two-time All-Region honoree and placed third at last year’s Great Lakes Regional before finishing 41^st at the National Championships.  Valpo’s men return five of their top six runners from last year’s squad.