Valparaiso University Cross Country Season Preview

Mens Cross Country

A boatload of experience returns for head coach Mike Straubel and the Valparaiso men’s cross country program in 2010, as the Crusaders graduated just one runner who ran among the team’s top-five at any point last season. This seasoned group of veteran Crusaders is taking aim at a move up the Horizon League ladder this season.

A trio of seniors will guide the pack of Valpo runners this year, led by Joel Hartenberger. The New Mexico native led the Crusaders in four of their six races last year and picked up a pair of top-ten finishes in the Crusader Open and the Commodore Classic. Hartenberger also ran a career-best 8K time of 26:11 at the Notre Dame Invitational. He is joined by fellow seniors Chris Bednarczyk and Keith Button, each of whom ran at five meets for Valpo as juniors.

Three of Valpo’s top-five runners from the 2009 campaign return among the four-member junior class. Jordan Piaskowy finished among the Crusaders’ top-five in all six meets last season, pacing Valpo at the Horizon League Championships. Nick Fagan contributed to the Crusader team score four times, including a second-place finish among Valpo runners at Notre Dame, where he ran a career-best 8K time of 27:28.

Blane Bowen also was among Valpo’s top-five on four occasions last season, running a career-best 8K time of 27:53 at the Bradley Classic, where he was the third Crusader across the line. Mack Morris also returns for his junior season after competing just twice as a sophomore.

Five Crusaders with sophomore eligibility return for 2010, including a pair of juniors academically. Redshirt sophomore Patrick Johnson finished just three races in his first season as a Crusader, but contributed to the team score twice and was the second-fastest Valpo runner at the Horizon League Championships. Caleb Schmal ran five times in his first season of competition in 2009, posting a season-best 8K time of 28:05 at the Bradley Classic.

Of the true sophomores, Wally Bradford impressed the most in his rookie season, finishing among Valpo’s top-five in three of his six races and leading the Crusader pack at Bradley, where he crossed the line in 27:05. Nathan Bluhm and Joe Johnson each ran four times for the Crusaders as freshmen as well. Valpo also adds a trio of newcomers to round out the 2010 squad.

The Crusader Open will be contested for the 22nd time in 2010, and for the 17th straight year it will serve as Valpo’s season-opening meet. Action at Sunset Hills Farm tomorrow begins at 5:45 p.m. with a 6K course.

Two weeks later, Valpo makes the short trip to West Lafayette to compete at the Indiana Intercollegiates, while on Oct. 1, a brief jaunt to the east is in the cards as the Crusaders will run at the Notre Dame Invitational. Valpo’s final tuneup comes on Oct. 16 as it travels downstate to cover the course at the Evansville Invitational.

With four races under their belts, the Crusaders will aim to be peaking for the 2010 Horizon League Championships, hosted this year by Cleveland State University and scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 30. The NCAA Great Lakes Regional is slated to be run Saturday, Nov. 13 in Bloomington, Ind., and if any Crusaders qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships, they would compete Monday, Nov. 22 in Terre Haute, Ind.

Women’s Cross Country

It is a youthful and small squad that will hit the course for the 2010 Valparaiso women’s cross country season, as the Crusaders have just eight runners, including just two upperclassmen. But head coach Mike Straubel has confidence in his squad’s ability to come together as a unit as the team looks to move up the Horizon League standings this season.

The lone senior on this year’s squad is fifth-year senior Whitney Bowman. Bowman returns for her final year of eligibility after finishing among the Crusaders’ top-five runners in all six races last season. She was the second Valpo runner across the line at the Commodore Classic and the Bradley Classic, while she ran a season-best 5K time of 20:00 flat at the Notre Dame Invitational. Junior Kristine Clay is the only other upperclassman on this year’s squad, returning after competing just one time in 2009 due to injury.

A pair of sophomores also return for their second season with the Crusader program. Haley Kerlin ran all six races for Valpo as a rookie, finishing among the Crusaders’ top-five at the Bradley Classic and running a season-best 5K time of 21:13 at Notre Dame. Ali Olson competed twice for the Crusaders as a freshman, running at the Commodore Classic and the Bradley Classic.

Four freshmen will join the Valpo squad as well in 2010, getting the immediate opportunity to contribute to the team’s success. Claire Johnson was an All-State honoree in Minnesota in both cross country and track and field, while Grace Shemwell and Grace Watkins both qualified for state championship cross country meets in Iowa and Illinois, respectively. Nicole Zehel also joins the Crusaders this year from Michigan.

The Crusader Open will be contested for the 22nd time in 2010, and for the 17th straight year it will serve as Valpo’s season-opening meet. Action at Sunset Hills Farm tomorrow begins at 5 p.m. with a 5K course.

Two weeks later, Valpo makes the short trip to West Lafayette to compete at the Indiana Intercollegiates, while on Oct. 1, a brief jaunt to the east is in the cards as the Crusaders will run at the Notre Dame Invitational. Valpo’s final tuneup comes on Oct. 16 as it travels downstate to cover the course at the Evansville Invitational.

With four races under their belts, the Crusaders will aim to be peaking for the 2010 Horizon League Championships, hosted this year by Cleveland State University and scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 30. The NCAA Great Lakes Regional is slated to be run Saturday, Nov. 13 in Bloomington, Ind., and if any Crusaders qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships, they would compete Monday, Nov. 22 in Terre Haute, Ind.