Senior Joel Hartenberger (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia) paced the Valparaiso men’s cross country team on Friday afternoon as the Crusaders competed at their second meet of the season, the Spartan Invitational in East Lansing, Mich.

Hartenberger covered the 8K course in a time of 26:21, mere seconds off of his personal best at the distance and good for a 66th place finish in a field of 288 runners.  He was followed by junior Nick Fagan (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore), who set a new career best by crossing the line in 26:59, placing 110th.

Junior Jordan Piaskowy (Crete, Ill./Illiana Christian) was the third Valpo runner to cross the line, finishing in 145th place with a time of 27:40.  Redshirt sophomore Caleb Schmal (Thornton, Ill./Illiana Christian) placed 190th, finishing the race in 28:46, while junior Blane Bowen (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) rounded out the Crusaders’ top-five runners with a time of 28:52, finishing 195th.

Michigan State’s Aaron Simmoneau took home individual top honors with a time of 24:28 over her squad’s home course.  No team scores were tallied for Friday’s race.  Valparaiso returns to competition in two weeks, making the short trip east to compete at the Notre Dame Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 1.