Continuing the #ValpoInTheValley series, which will take a look at each of the Missouri Valley Conference’s 17 sports, are track and field and cross country. Learn about the landscape of The Valley in these sports and hear from cross country head coach Mike Straubel and track and field head coach Ryan Moore as they talk about what their respective programs are looking forward to entering their first season of MVC competition and who will lead the way in 2017-18 for their squads.

Valparaiso University president Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D., announced today that the University has accepted an invitation to join the Missouri Valley Conference on July 1, 2017. The Crusaders will begin competing for MVC championships in the 2017–2018 academic year.

The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s track and field teams concluded the 2017 Horizon League Outdoor Championships on Sunday. The men finished in fifth place with 49 points and the women ended in eighth with 24 points. Senior Liz Owen received the top honor over the weekend by earning a first-place nod in the 1,500m race.

The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s track and field teams competed in Day 2 of the Horizon League Outdoor Championships at Youngstown State University on Saturday. The men have 21 points and the women have tallied nine points after two days of competing. The men scored nine of their points in the pole vault.

The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s track and field teams the Horizon League Outdoor Championships hosted by Youngstown State on Friday. The Crusader men leave the opening day with seven points, holding seventh place overall. Sophomore Drew McKissick Jr. highlighted the opening day of the league championships for Valpo.

After setting a school record in the 3,000m steeplechase, senior Liz Owen (Freedom, Wis./Freedom) was named the Horizon League’s Female Runner of the Week on Tuesday.

The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s track and field teams emerged as Champions in Classroom, placing a league-most eight athletes on the Horizon League all-academic team, which was announced on Monday. The men’s team boasts six honorees and the women have two on the team.

On a cold, rainy and windy day, the Valparaiso University men’s and women’s track and field teams hosted their fourth home meet in school history at the Warren G. Hoger Track. The men ended up with 180 points, receiving their first team victory this season. The women finished in second with 107 total points.

The Valparaiso University track and field team will host its fourth home meet since the opening of Warren G. Hoger Track on Saturday with the third annual Crusader Open.