Chris Honig (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South [Indiana]) captured his second individual victory this season in the 3,000m run, leading the Valparaiso men's track and field team at the Akron Open.

Honig crossed the line in the 3,000m event in 8:47.21, defeating 29 other runners for the podium's top spot. The time is the second-fastest in the event in the Mid-Con this year, and is just shy of cracking Valpo's all-time top-five in the event. Leandro Schultz (Valley View, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) finished ninth in the same race, completing the 3,000m in 8:58.41.

The Crusaders also enjoyed success in the mile run, placing two runners in the top-13. Rich Krupar III (Elyria, Ohio/Midview) finished eighth with a time of 4:25.19, the fastest time in the mile for Valpo this year, while Jim Turchyn (Batesville, Ind./Batesville) came home 13th, completing the race in 4:27.41.

Steve Bartholomew (Valparaiso, Ind./Morgan Township) paced the Crusaders on the infield, posting two top-three finishes in the throws. Bartholomew registered a toss of 55'4 ¾" in the weight throw, good for third place overall, while placing second in the discus throw with a mark of 163'3". Eric Smith (Portage, Ind./Portage) joined Bartholomew in the top-ten in the discus, recording a throw of 136'7" for a ninth-place finish.

Valparaiso returns to the track on Saturday, February 17, as the Crusaders travel downstate to West Lafayette to take part in Purdue's Boilermaker Invitational. The first event is slated to kick off at 10 a.m. Central time.