The Valparaiso University track and field teams recorded three individual wins on the day at the DePaul Invitational in Chicago on Saturday. Junior Alexander Bruno (Bloomington, Ill./University) broke through first with a win in the men’s 800-meter run. Freshman Carli Sowonik (Hebron, Ind./Hebron) added another victory in the women’s pole vault, while sophomore Jake Rasawehr (Celina, Ohio/Celina) won the discus throw.

The Crusaders came away with a total of 24 Top-5 finishes, 19 for the men and five for the women. Both men and women beat Benedictine, Chicago State and UIC, while falling to host DePaul and Milwaukee.

While the rest of the team was in Chicago, the men’s pole vaulters competed at the Pacesetter Sports Invitational, hosted by Indiana State in Terre Haute, Ind. Sophomore Jeremy Seiler (Angola, Ind./Fremont) was the top Crusader, finishing third.

How It Happened

• Freshman Sarah Caesar (Fox River Grove, Ill./Cary-Grove) started things off with a fourth-place finish in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 12:11.57.
• In the men’s portion of the 3000-meter steeplechase, junior Tim Zange (Robins, La./Kennedy) ran a 10:16.28 to finish third.
• The women’s 1500-meter run saw senior Kim Heiny (Burnettsville, Ind./Twin Lakes) come in fourth with a time of 4:57.41.
• There were three Crusaders in the top five of the men’s 1500-meter run, with freshman Jack Worman (Hanover Park, Ill./Hoffman Estates) holding on for third in a time of 4:05.19.
• Sophomore Steve Helm (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) was clocked fifth overall at 51.77 in the men’s 400-meter dash.
• With a time of 11.32 in the men’s 100-meter dash, sophomore Taylor Allen (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) wound up fourth overall.
• Bruno crossed the finish line first in the 800-meter run. His time was recorded at 1:53.95, which moves him into a tie for the third-fastest time in school history.
• In the 400-meter hurdles, sophomore Bryce Otterbach (Mendota, Ill./Mendota Township) came in with a time of 56.95 to finish third.
• The men’s high jump saw freshman Will Maidment (Woodstock, Ill./Woodstock) reach 6 feet, ¾ inch for a third-place finish.
• Sowonik won the women’s pole vault with an effort of 10-3, which was three inches higher than second.
• With a leap of 21-3, junior Malik Riley (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) was the runner-up in the men’s long jump.
• Sophomore Anne Mou (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park) came away with a fourth-place finish in the women’s triple jump, measuring at 34-3¾.
• In the men’s shot put, senior Andrew Guzek (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) placed fourth with a toss of 49-3¾.
• Rasawehr claimed a victory in the discus throw with a heave of 163-7. With that effort, he improves his personal-best distance from 162-1 and stays second-best in school history.
• Guzek added another fourth-place finish in the hammer throw, which was measured at 171-5.
• The men’s javelin throw saw Luke Lavendusky finish fourth with a heave of 142-6.
• Mou grabbed a third-place finish in the javelin throw for the women with an effort of 96-3.
• Seiler was able to secure the third spot in the men’s pole vault at the Pacesetter Sports Invitational, reaching a height of 15-1½. That effort puts him third in the school record book. Junior Kyle Baker (Essex, Vt./Essex) finished tied for fourth at 14-7½, which moves him into fifth all-time.

Up Next

The Crusaders will host their lone home meet at Warren G. Hoger Track on Saturday, April 28.