Valparaiso's women's track and field team opened the 2003-2004 season on Saturday afternoon, competing at the Lewis Opener in Romeoville, Ill., a non-scoring meet.

Elizabeth Kinneer (Brighton, Mich./Brighton H.S.) won the 1500m run with a time of 5:34.82, a victory of nearly five seconds.

The Crusaders also finished third and fourth in the 400m dash. Coree Schmitz (Gillette, Wyo./Campbell County H.S.) finished third with a time of 1:03.56, while fellow freshman Elizabeth Banda (San Antonio, Texas/GW Beckenridge H.S.) was one spot back with a time of 1:04.87.

Laura Arloszynski (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield H.S.) finished fourth in the 55m dash with a time of 7.51 seconds, while Maggie Zellner (Downers Grove, Ill./Benet Academy) finished sixth in the 200m dash with a time of 27.41 seconds.

On the infield, Emilie Marsick (Spalding, Mich./Carney-Nadeau H.S.) was second in the pole vault. The freshman cleared 9'0". Holly Hagen (Hobart, Ind./Hobart H.S.) also finished sixth in the weight throw with a heave of 43'11 ¼".

The Crusaders will take a month off before returning to action on January 17 at the Carthage D1 Invitational.