Nick Babbitt (Milwaukee, Wis./Nicolet) posted a fourth-place finish in the weight throw Saturday to lead the Valparaiso men’s track and field team on the first day of competition at the Horizon League Indoor Championships in Greencastle, Ind.

The Crusader men sit in seventh place after the first of two days of action at the championships, posting four points.  Milwaukee leads the team standings with 44 points.

Babbitt moved into fourth place on Valpo’s all-time list in the weight throw, registering a toss of 49’9” for his fourth-place finish in the event.  Also on the infield Saturday, Jarrett Mickens (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) placed seventh in the long jump, leaping a season-best 20’4 ¼”.

On the track, Tom Heun (Brecksville, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) qualified fifth for Sunday’s event final in the 60m hurdles, posting a time of 8.62 seconds.  Heun also led Valpo in the 200m dash with a time of 23.75 seconds, but did not qualify for the final.  Other top Crusaders included Vince Liuzzo (Jamestown, N.Y./Jamestown) in the 60m dash (7.46), Caleb Schmal (Thornton, Ill./Illiana Christian) in the 800m run (2:05.97) and Leandro Schultz (Valley View, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) in the 5,000m run with a season-best time of 15:48.60.

The Indoor Championships conclude on Sunday, with the first event beginning at 8 a.m. CST.