The Valparaiso track and field program had four athletes named to the Horizon League’s Indoor Track and Field Academic All-League Team, as announced today by the league office.  Sophomore Claire Johnson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) represented the Valpo women’s squad, while redshirt junior Chris Hovan (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Christian), junior Joe Johnson (Darien, Ill./Downers Grove South) and junior Andrew Rixon (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) earned spots on the men’s team.

Claire Johnson earned the honor on the women’s side after an indoor campaign where she finished seventh at the Horizon League Indoor Championships in the one mile run.  Johnson paced the Valpo women’s squad during the indoor season in both the mile (5:08.19) and the 800m run (2:22.62).  The sophomore, who previously earned Academic All-League accolades following the cross country season last fall, carries a 3.994 cumulative GPA as a double major, majoring in German as well as international economics and cultural affairs.  She has received Valpo Presidential academic honors and been named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.

Hovan received the Academic All-League accolade after placing ninth in the triple jump and 14^th in the long jump at the league’s indoor championship meet.  The redshirt junior ranked second on the team in the triple jump and third in the long jump during the indoor season.  Hovan, who carries a 3.728 cumulative GPA as a physical education major, has received Valpo Presidential academic honors and been named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.

Joe Johnson earned the third Academic All-League honor of his career, having previously been named to the 2011 Outdoor Track and Field and 2011 Cross Country Academic All-League squads.  He was the fourth-fastest Crusader in the one mile run during the indoor campaign, posting a top time of 4:34.01 in the event, and also registered a best time of 9:16.65 in the 3,000m run indoors.  Johnson, who owns a 3.711 cumulative GPA as an accounting major, has received Valpo Presidential academic honors and been named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.

Rixon received the academic accolade after finishing third in the shot put at the Horizon League Indoor Championships with a toss of 50’4”, the third-best effort in school history in the event.  Rixon also ranked second among all Crusaders during the 2012 indoor season in the weight throw.  The junior, who carries a 3.604 cumulative GPA as a civil engineering major, was previously named to the 2011 Indoor Track and Field Academic All-League team, has received Valpo Presidential academic honors and been named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.