Senior Jarrett Mickens (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) won the triple jump for the third time in five meets this season and also posted a podium finish in the long jump to lead the Valparaiso men’s track and field team as it competed at the GVSU Big Meet in Allendale, Mich. on Saturday.

Mickens earned his victory in the triple jump on Saturday with ease, leaping 47’5” to out-pace the second-place finisher by nearly 18 inches.  The senior also placed second in the long jump with a jump of 23’0 ½”.

Mickens had a pair of teammates join him among the top-12 finishers in the triple jump as well.  Senior Steve Schubert (Naperville, Ill./Benet Academy) leapt 44’0 ¾”, good for sixth place, while sophomore Chris Hovan (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Christian) placed 12th on Saturday with a jump of 40’11 ½”.  Elsewhere on the infield, junior Bill Rixon (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) finished 20th in the weight throw with a season-best toss of 48’3 ½”.

The Crusaders also had some outstanding performances on the track on Saturday.  Freshman Julian Smith (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice) finished 17th in the 200m dash with a time of 22.57 seconds, while fellow freshman Logan Coan, competing in the event for the first time at the collegiate level, crossed the line in 22.85 seconds, tied for fourth-fastest in Valpo history.

Freshman Joe Holy (Bolingbrook, Ill./Joliet Catholic) nearly cracked the Crusaders’ all-time top-five in the 400m dash Saturday, placing 23rd in a deep field after posting a time of 51.00 seconds flat.  In the mile run, sophomore Wally Bradford (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) came home in 14th place, completing the circuits in 4:25.36.

Valparaiso returns to action next Saturday at the Boilermaker Invitational in West Lafayette, Ind.  The meet is slated for a 10 a.m. CST start.