Led by a near record-setting performance by sophomore Kelley Freeman (Valparaiso, Ind./Chesterton), the Valparaiso women’s track and field team continued the 2012 indoor campaign Saturday at the Mastodon Invitational in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Freeman, who entered Saturday’s meet already ranked third in Crusader history in the pole vault, improved upon her previous career best on Saturday, topping out at 10’11 ½” to earn the event victory.  The sophomore came up just one quarter-inch shy of moving into a three-way tie atop Valpo’s all-time chart in the pole vault.

Elsewhere on the infield, sophomore Marissa Crafton (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) led the Crusaders in the long jump, leaping 16’3” to finish in second place.  Freshman Sara Greer (Union Mills, Ind./South Central) earned a tenth-place finish in the weight throw with an effort of 40’5 ½”, while on the track, freshman Malea Buck (Davenport, Iowa/Central) led the way, finishing fourth in the 400m dash (1:05.59) and tenth in the 200m dash (29.65).

Sophomore Sarah Drozdowski (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) also competed this weekend for Valpo, but took to the throwing circle at the prestigious Meyo Invitational in Notre Dame, Ind.  Drozdowski participated in the weight throw on Friday evening, placing 37^th with a toss of 47’1 ½”.

Valparaiso returns to action next weekend at the GVSU Big Meet in Allendale, Mich.  The two-day event begins Friday, Feb. 10 at 9 a.m. CST.