Dennis Kabara (Chuka, Kenya/Mero H.S.) and Doug Brown (Lima, Ohio/Allen East H.S.) finished third and fourth respectively to lead Valparaiso to a second place finish in the Crusader Invitational on Friday afternoon at Sunset Hills Farm.

Kabara, running in his first collegiate race after red-shirting in 2001, finished with a time of 26:35 while Brown finished just five seconds later to help the Crusaders tally 42 team points and finish just behind champion Western Michigan.

The Broncos claimed the title with 25 points. DePaul (70 points) was third, followed by IFPW (95) and Wisconsin-Green Bay (111).

Junior Matt Blume (Logansport, Ind./Pioneer H.S.) was third to finish for the Brown and Gold with a time of 26:52, earning him sixth place overall. Jeff Kondraschow (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South H.S.) placed 10th (27:32), while freshman David Wheeler (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East H.S.) was 19th (27:49) to round out the Crusaders scoring.

Valpo will return to racing in two weeks when the Crusaders travel to Bloomington, Ind. for the Indiana Intercollegiate Championships.