The Valparaiso University track and field teams concluded the two-day Gibson Invitational, hosted by Missouri Valley Conference member Indiana State in Terre Haute on Saturday. Freshman Carli Sowonik (Hebron, Ind./Hebron) highlighted the day with a victory in the women’s pole vault and a spot in the school record book, while senior Andrew Guzek (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) moved up the record book in the men’s shot put.

The Crusader men finished the competition fourth in team standings with 43.5 total points, just ahead of MVC foe Bradley. The Valpo women finished sixth with 26 points. UNI took the top honors on the men’s side, while host Indiana State claimed the top spot for the women.

How It Happened

• In the women’s 400-meter dash, senior Allison Baylor (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) scored for Valpo with an eighth-place finish. Her time was clocked at 1:06.39.
• For the men, sophomore Ben Sekuloski (Lowell, Ind./Lowell) crossed the finish line third in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.27.
• Freshman Jack Worman (Hanover Park, Ill./Hoffman Estates) finished the men’s 1500-meter run in 4:04.93, which was good for seventh.
• The 110-meter hurdles saw junior Quinten Holley (Goshen, Ind./Goshen) complete the race in sixth with a time of 17.43.
• With a time of 57.74, sophomore Bryce Otterbach (Mendota, Ill./Mendota Township) managed a fifth-place finish in the men’s 400-meter hurdles.
• Freshman Sarah Caesar (Fox River Grove, Ill./Cary-Grove) was sixth in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase, coming in at a time of 12:18.79.
• In the men’s high jump, freshman Will Maidment (Woodstock, Ill./Woodstock) finished the event in fifth with a leap of 6 feet, 4¾ inches.
• Sowonik won the women’s pole vault, climbing to a height of 11-5¾. The rest of the field could not surpass 10-11¾. She now sits third in Valpo history as only a freshman.
• In the men’s pole vault, sophomore Nathan Woltmann (Lisle, Ill./Lisle) was the top Crusader, finishing sixth at 10-11¾.
• Sophomore Anne Mou (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park) leapt 35-1¾ in the women’s triple jump to conclude the event in seventh.
• With an effort of 42-8, junior Collin McCullough (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) wound up sixth in the men’s triple jump.
• Finishing in eighth with a throw of 39-4½ in the shot put was junior Nellie Bonham (Palos Hills, Ill./Stagg).
• Guzek was eighth in the men’s shot put after he tossed a career best, which was measured at 50-8. That throw moves him up to fourth in school history.

Up Next

The Crusaders will hit the road again next Saturday, April 14 for a trip to Normal, Ill. for the Redbird Invite, hosted by MVC opponent Illinois State.