The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s cross country teams will begin the 2019-2020 season with clear goals in mind.  

After setting both the program’s 8K and 10K records in 2018, standout fifth-year senior Alexander Bruno (Bloomington, Ill./University) is back for a final season with his eyes on continued improvement.

“At the conference meet, certainly my goal is Top 3,” he said. “Anything less than that is a disappointment. I’d like to win. To make a national meet would be awesome.”

Bruno, who was a first-team all-conference runner last year, set Valpo’s 8K record (24:23) at the MVC Championships on Oct. 27 and the 10K record (31:54.4) on Nov. 9 at NCAA Regionals. Both records were previously held by Aaron Crague since 2001.

Head coach Mike Straubel, who is back for his 33^rd season heading the Brown & Gold, endorsed several returning runners as key components of the 2019-2020 men’s squad. Among those he cited his excitement for are sophomores Jack Worman (Hanover Parks, Ill./Hoffman Estates) and Ignacio Veloz Bonilla (San Juan, P.R./American Military Academy) as well as junior Dominic Paoletti (Monroe, Mich./Monroe St. Mary).

“They had great times last year,” Straubel said. “If we can just repeat last year’s times and maybe go a little faster, we are going to be in prime position to do well at the conference meet.”

Straubel will look toward captain Katherine Germann (Cincinnati, Ohio/Finneytown) to lead the women’s team, which also includes senior Taylor Justison (Catham, Ill./Glenwood) and team newcomer Alaina Carpenter (Grandville, Mich./Grandville). Germann broke into the program’s Top 10 times in both the 5K (18:12.9) and 6K (22:32.7) during the 2018-2019 campaign, while Justison returns for her fourth season.

Valpo will open the season on Friday with the 31^st annual Crusader Open held at Sunset Hill Farm County Park, where teams from Notre Dame, IUPUI, Loyola and Indiana State will convene. The women’s race will start at 5 p.m., and the men’s race beings at 5:45 p.m. This year’s home meet will serve as a precursor to the MVC Championship, which will take place at Sunset Hill Farm in November.