The Valparaiso track and field teams opened their indoor season today in Fort Wayne, Ind. with the Mastodon Open, hosted by IPFW. Seven Crusaders claimed individual titles. There were no team scores.

Jacob Smutz (West Lafayette, Ind./Harrison) claimed top honors in the men’s weight throw with a toss of 16.60m/54-5.

Andrew Guzek (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) won the men’s shot put in his first collegiate track meet with a throw of 14.21m/46-7.5. The hometown freshman also claimed fourth place in the weight throw with a toss of 15.29m/50-2.

Justin Zosso (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) won the men’s pole vault title with a height of 4.25m/13-11.25.

Jazmin Taylor (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island) claimed the women’s high jump crown, clearing 1.59m/5-2.5.

Ann Chapman (Washington, Ill./Washington Community) won the women’s triple jump, leaping 10.53m/34-6.75, setting the fourth best mark in Valpo history. The junior claimed third place in the long jump (4.68m/15-4.25) as well.

Anthony Franze (Gunter, Texas/Texas) got his sophomore campaign off to a good start as he claimed the top spot in the men’s 200 meter dash in a photo finish, crossing in 23.56, just .02 ahead of Oakland’s William Askew. He picked up a fifth place finish in the 60m also, crossing the line in 7.33.

The women’s 600 meter run nearly provided a photo finish as well, with Kelli Wosick (Mount Prospect, Ill./Saint Viator) edging out IPFW’s Kayla McGurk by .14 as she crossed the line in 1:42.30. The senior improved her personal best – and fourth fastest Crusader time – by .52.

This marks the only meet for Valpo before the new year. The Crusaders return to the track on Jan. 9 when they travel to Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill. for the Lewis Open.