Valparaiso opened its outdoor track season Saturday, competing at the Louisiana Classics, hosted by the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Crusaders put together their best effort in the 5,000m run, placing three runners in the top-10. Jordan Stanfill (Goshen, Ind./Goshen H.S.) came home fifth, crossing the line in 16:09.3. Fellow freshman Jim Turchyn (Batesville, Ind./Batesville H.S.) finished in 16:18.4, good for seventh place, while Jeff Johnson (Darien, Ill./Downers Grove South H.S.) placed tenth in 16:56.3.

Rich Krupar III (Elyria, Ohio/Midview H.S.) also notched a fifth place finish for the Brown and Gold. Krupar completed the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 10:23.1.

Eric Smith (Portage, Ind./Portage H.S.) paced the Crusader effort in the field events, taking 12th place in the discus (143') and 15th place in the shot put (42'3 ¼").

Tom Heun (Brecksville, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights H.S.) also notched two top-20 finishes. His effort of 20'2 ½" in the long jump was good for 14th place, and he also placed 18th in the 110m hurdles, crossing the line in 16.18 seconds.

In addition, Heun led off the Crusader 4x400m relay team, helping the squad come home 10th in the event. Heun, Krupar, Bryan Gill (Columbia City, Ind./Columbia City H.S.), and Dustin Lawrence (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central H.S.) combined to finish in 3:35.2.

Valparaiso returns to action April 1, as the Brown and Gold travel to DePauw to take part in a quadrangular meet, along with Butler and Indiana Wesleyan. The first event in the meet is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. CST.