Official Athletic Site of the Valparaiso University Crusaders
Chris Lechner
2008-09 Men's Cross Country
YR.
Jr.
HOMETOWN
Darien, Ill.
HIGH SCHOOL (PREV. SCHOOL)
Hinsdale South
Chris Lechner

2009 (Track and Field): Competed in distance events outdoors for the Crusaders during junior campaign ... posted season-best times of 4:31.00 in the 1,500m run and 17:15.61 in the 5,000m run ... did not run during indoor season.

2008 (Cross Country): Ran in four races for Valpo as a junior ... opened season with 32nd-place finish at Crusader Open ... ran season-best 8K time of 27:58.50 at Evansville Invitational ... ran for Crusaders as well at Horizon League Championships.

2008 (Track and Field): One of Valpo’s fastest runners in the long-distance events ... ran second fastest Crusader time of season outdoors in the 10,000m run (35:25.54, HL Championships) ... was third-fastest Valpo runner indoors in the 5,000m run (17:07.17, Findlay Classic) ... also competed indoors in the 3,000 run (9:49.87, DePauw Invitational) and outdoors in the 1,500m run (4:32.12, DePauw Invitational) and 5,000m run (16:43.97, Butler Twilight).

2007 (Cross Country): Competed five times for the Brown and Gold during sophomore year ... lowered 6K time to 21:33 at season-opening Crusader Invitational, 26 seconds faster than the previous year ... cut career-best 8K time down to 28:30 at Boston College Open ... took 42 more seconds off his career best at 8K at the Evansville Invitational, crossing the line in 27:48.14 ... ran for Valpo at the Horizon League Championships.

2007 (Track and Field): Ran eight times as a freshman ... recorded season-best time of 10:02.63 indoors in the 3,000m run at the Boilermaker Invitational ... covered 10,000m run outdoors at the Hillsdale Gina Relays in 35:25.16.

2006 (Cross Country): Ran four times for Valpo as a freshman ... opened season with solid effort at Crusader Invitational, covering 6K course in 21:59 ... improved 8K time in each of last three races of season ... covered 8K course in the open race at the Notre Dame Invitational in 29:19 ... cut 8K time down to 28:47.16 at the Evansville Invitational.

Prep: Earned three letters in both cross country and track and field for the Hornets ... named to West Suburban Gold Conference All-Academic Team in cross country ... helped team to a conference championship as a freshman ... earned team’s Sportsmanship Award ... also picked up school’s Hornet Award as a senior ... was part of West Suburban Gold Conference champion 4x800m relay team on the track ... also helped lead track squad to league championship in 2005.

Personal: Chris is the son of John and Connie Lechner ... father, John, ran cross country and track at Lewis University ... major is business administration ... born March 17, 1988.

2008-09 Men's Cross Country
Chris BednarczykSo.Westfield, Ind.
Blane BowenFr.Grand Blanc, Mich.
Justin BuiSo.The Woodlands, Texas
Keith ButtonSo.Farmington Hills, Mich.
David CarterJr.Arlington Heights, Ill.
Matt CervarichJr.Deerfield, Ill.
Nick FaganFr.Sycamore, Ill.
Bryan GillSr./Jr.Columbia City, Ind.
Joel HartenbergerSo.Albuquerque, N.M.
Chris Honig5th/Sr.Glen Ellyn, Ill.
Rich KruparSr.Elyria, Ohio
Chris LechnerJr.Darien, Ill.
Joel MathwigJr./So.Fall Creek, Wis.
Mack MorrisFr.Eden Prairie, Minn.
Jordan PiaskowyFr.Crete, Ill.
Caleb SchmalFr.Thornton, Ill.
Derek SchnakeFr.Chicago, Ill.
Leandro SchultzSr.Valley View, Ohio
Jordan StanfillSr.Goshen, Ind.
Tyler TollFr.LaPorte, Ind.
Jim TurchynSr.Batesville, Ind.
Baseball Toledo 1 Emory G. Bauer Field
May 14 Valpo 6
M Golf NCAA Regional Championship Columbus, Ohio (The Ohio State University GC)
May 16 13th/13 (309)
Baseball Youngstown State 1 Emory G. Bauer Field
May 16 Valpo 4
M Golf NCAA Regional Championship Columbus, Ohio (The Ohio State University GC)
May 17 13th/13 (617)
Baseball Youngstown State 4 Emory G. Bauer Field
May 17 Valpo 7
Softball Valpo 0 Ann Arbor, Mich.
May 17 #7/8 Michigan 5
M Golf NCAA Regional Championship Columbus, Ohio (The Ohio State University GC)
May 18 13th/13 (927)
Baseball Youngstown State 2 Emory G. Bauer Field
May 18 Valpo 3
Softball Valpo 7 Ann Arbor, Mich.
May 18 Central Michigan 4
Softball Valpo 0 Ann Arbor, Mich.
May 18 California 6
Baseball Valpo 8 Niles, Ohio
May 23 UIC 7
M Track NCAA East Regional Championships Greensboro, N.C.
May 24
Baseball Valpo Niles, Ohio
May 25 Winner of #4 Wright State/#1 Milwaukee
Baseball Valpo Niles, Ohio
May 26 Horizon League Championship