Led by Chris Honig (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South [Indiana]) and Jim Turchyn (Batesville, Ind./Batesville), the Valparaiso men’s cross country squad finished in 12th place Friday at the Indiana Intercollegiates in Bloomington, Ind.

The Crusaders tallied 358 points en route to their 12th-place finish.  The host Hoosiers claimed the team championship, totaling just 33 points.

Honig paced the Crusaders for the second consecutive meet to open the 2008 campaign, covering the eight-kilometer course in 27:19, good for a 59th-place showing.  Turchyn followed close behind the senior, crossing the line just two seconds later to finish in 61st position.

Joel Hartenberger (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia) was the third Valpo runner to cross the line, coming home in 70th place with a time of 27:33.  Rich Krupar (Elyria, Ohio/Midview) was next to complete the race for the Crusaders, completing the 8K course in 27:51, good for an 80th-place finish, while David Carter (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) closed out the Valpo scorers with a 92nd-place showing in a time of 28:11.

Valparaiso returns to the course in two weeks on Friday, Oct. 3 as the Crusaders head to Notre Dame, Ind. to take part in the Notre Dame Invitational.