Honig finished 20th, covering the 8K course in 26:29, the fastest Crusader 8K
since current assistant coach Adam Piaskowy ran a 26:23 in 2004. Honig, a
sophomore transfer from Indiana, has been the highest finishing Valpo runner in
each of the season's first two meets.
The next four Valpo runners all finished in a bunch, led by junior
Michael Brouch (Aurora, Ill./Marmion Academy) who placed 56th ion
27:35. One second later, sophomore Jordan Stanfill (Goshen,
Ind./Goshen) crossed the tape in 58th, setting a career-best time in the
process.
Jim Turchyn (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) was 64th with a time of
27:42, followed closely by Leandro Schultz (Brecksville,
Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) in 27:46. Josh Parker
(Roselle, Ill./Lake Park), one of Valpo's co-captains, finished in 83rd but did
run a career-best 28:02.
The Crusaders will now have two weeks to recover before the Notre Dame
Invitational on September 29. The men's 8K race is scheduled to begin at 4:00
p.m.
Senior Danielle Nunnelly (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso)
recaptured her form of two seasons ago and covered the 5K course in 17:48.4, a
personal best and the fastest 5K ever run by someone other than All-American
Collette Liss in school history. Nunnelly's time was good enough for second in
the race of over 200 runners, 11 seconds behind two-time All-American Jessica
Gall of Indiana.
Not to be outdone, sophomore Laura Rolf (Rochester,
Mich./Lutheran Northwest) finished right behind her teammate in third, crossing
the tape in 17:53.3, one second shy of a personal best. Rolf, who won the 4K
Crusader Invitational last week and earned Mid-Con Athlete of the Week honors,
finished four seconds ahead of fourth and a clear 18 seconds in front of the
fifth place finisher.
Ashley Billstrom (Hales Corners, Wis./Whitnall) and
Rachael Button (Farmington Hills, Mich./Farmington) were the next two
Valpo finishers, crossing in 20th and 22nd respectively. Billstrom's time of
18:45.5 was the quickest 5K of the senior's career.
Renae Swift (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso), running the first 5K
of her career after missing two years with injuries, was the final Crusader to
score in 43rd place with a time of 19:35.2.
The Brown and Gold had just 89 points for the competition, behind only race
champion Indiana. Valpo finished ahead of 24 in-state rivals, including Purdue,
Indiana State, Ball State, IPFW, IUPUI, Evansville and Butler.
The Crusaders' next race will come in two weeks when they run another 5K at the
Notre Dame Invitational, scheduled to begin at 3:15 p.m.