The Valparaiso University track & field team competed for the first time in the calendar year of 2022 on Saturday, boasting several strong performances at the Bob Eubanks Open, which was hosted by Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich. A pair of Beacons won their respective events with Tristan Malatlian (Pfafftown, N.C. / Reagan) topping the field in the men’s pole vault, while Mackenzie Patten (Highland, Mich. / Milford) recorded the best mark in the women’s weight throw.

How It Happened

• Malatlian cleared 4.50m (14-9) in the pole vault, establishing a new career best while taking the top spot.
• Patten’s weight throw covered 14.23m (46-8.25), another career best. The Valpo women swept the top three spots in that event.
• Another strong performance came courtesy of Grace Aurand (Highland, Ind. / Highland), who finished ninth in the mile at 5:17.11. The sophomore’s career best helped her crack the top 10 in a 47-runner field. She also paced the team in the 3,000.
• Simeon Ehm (Castle Rock, Colo. / Heritage) finished with a career-best time of 8:53.36 in the 3000 to cross the finish 11^th of 46. Elsewhere in men’s distance activity, Evan Walda (Fort Wayne, Ind. / South Side) was the first Beacon across in the mile to place 15^th of 42 at 4:25.54.
• Sean Curran (Plainfield, Ill. / Plainfield North) finished in the top 10 in the 800 at 2:04.36.
• Alek Trafton (Lockport, Ill. / Lockport) was the runner-up in the weight throw with a heave of 16.35m (53-7.75).

Up Next

Valpo will next compete on Saturday, Jan. 22 at the Mastodon Invitational in Fort Wayne as the indoor season rolls on.