Saturday, November 12, 2011

The Valparaiso men's cross country team concluded its 2011 season on Saturday morning in Toledo, Ohio at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, finishing the race in 29^th place.

The Crusaders totaled 893 points for their 29^th place finish, placing ahead of fellow Horizon League squad Green Bay. Wisconsin took the team championship with 50 points, while Butler's Callum Hawkins earned individual top honors, finishing the race in 30:01.5.

Valpo was paced Saturday by freshman Trace Ostergren (LaPorte, Ind./Culver Academy), who covered the 10K course in 34:05.0, good for 168^th place. Senior Nick Fagan (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) ran close behind Ostergren, finishing in 170^th place in his final collegiate meet with a time of 34:14.5.

Senior Jordan Piaskowy (Crete, Ill./Illiana Christian) crossed the line Saturday as the Crusaders' third-fastest runner, placing 180^th by covering the circuit in 34:32.6. Valpo's five team scorers were closed out by a pair of runners who finished consecutively, as freshman David Rutkowski (Cedarburg, Wis./Living Word Lutheran) ran a time of 34:43.0, good for 187^th place, while sophomore Kiefer Heiman (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) closed out the race in 188^th place, crossing the line in 34:48.6.