A journey that started over two months ago at Sunset Hills Farm in Valparaiso came to a close in Madison, Wisconsin at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Friday.

Jessica Richardson (Columbus, Ind./North) led the women's cross-country team to a 30th-place result Friday. The junior finished the 6K course in exactly 23:00, garnering her a 135th-place individual time. Richardson recorded the fastest times amongst Crusaders in each race in 2013.

Sophomore Dezzarae Arce (Orland Park, Ill./Victor J. Andrew) earned a 174th-place finish with her 23:44 time. Freshman Liz Bloy (Freedom, Wis./Freedom) crossed the line at 23:59, while senior Grace Shemwell (Clinton, Iowa/Clinton) closed out her cross-country career with a 24:06 result.

Senior Claire Johnson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) rounded out the scoring for Valparaiso by stopping the clock at 24:40.

The men's team was led again by junior David Rutkowski (Cedarburg, Wis./Living Word Lutheran), who crossed the line in the 10K race at 33:14. His finish ranked 111th of all competing runners. Senior Matt Przybyla (Whitmore Lake, Mich./Pinckney) scored a 34:37 finish in his final collegiate cross-country meet.

The future appears bright for Valpo as a triumvirate of freshmen rounded out the scoring for the Crusaders.

Adam Bruno (Bloomington, Ill./Normal) and Jesse Greenhagen (Waverly, Minn./Mayer Lutheran) both finished with 35:30 times, for 190th and 191st-place finishes, respectively.

Dan Walters (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) recorded a 196th-place result with a time of 26:08.