Monday, February 27, 2006

A fifth-place finish in the shot put by Steve Bartholomew (Valparaiso, Ind./Morgan Township H.S.) led the Crusaders Monday as they competed on the final day of action at the Mid-Continent Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in Bloomington, Ill.

Valpo finished sixth as a team, registering 33 points over the two-day meet. Oral Roberts took home top team honors with 224 points, with Southern Utah (163.5) finishing as runner-up. Western Illinois (76), UMKC (69.5), and Chicago State (44) rounded out the team scoring.

Bartholomew, who finished third in the weight throw on Sunday, posted his second top-five of the meet with his effort of 44'11' in the shot put. He edged out teammate Jeff Swihart (Wakarusa, Ind./Northwood H.S.), whose toss of 44'6 ¾" was good for a sixth place finish.

Jim Turchyn (Batesville, Ind./Batesville H.S.) notched a seventh-place finish in the one mile run, crossing the line in 4:26.88. Rich Krupar III (Elyria, Ohio/Midview H.S.) placed eighth in the 800m run with a time of 2:00.58.

David Wheeler (Saint Charles, Ill./Saint Charles East H.S.) led three Crusaders in the 5,000m run, recording a time of 15:53.31 while finishing seventh. Michael Brouch (Aurora, Ill./Marmion Academy) and Jordan Stanfill (Goshen, Ind./Goshen H.S.) placed eighth and ninth, respectively.

The meet marks the end of Valpo's indoor track and field season. The Crusaders return to action on Saturday, April 1, as they take on Butler, Indiana Wesleyan, and DePauw at DePauw.