Horizon League Outdoor Track & Field Championships Day One

Day One Results          Heat Sheets (Saturday)

MILWAUKEE, Wis. --- The Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships got off to a great start, with strong performances by Milwaukee in the heptathlon and decathlon and Loyola in the 10,000-meter runs.

Milwaukee’s Ben Crogan leads the men’s decathlon field with 3,482 points. His day was highlighted by wins in the long jump (6.58m), shot put (10.62m) and high jump (2.00m). Matt Marzahl, a freshman from UIC, is currently in second place with 3,195 points, followed by Detroit’s Taylor Hennrick (3,125) and Butler’s Mick Wang rounds out the competition with 2,969 points.

In the women’s heptathlon, Milwaukee seniors Shelby Schaal and Laura Hamel have 2,851 and 2,801 points, respectively and are 1-2 in the competition. Schaal won the 100mH with a time of 14.63 and the shot put (10.90m). Hamel won the high jump with a school record leap of 1.74m (5-8.50). Rounding out the top-five is UIC’s Jennifer Johnson (2,384), Wright State’s Sarah Ann Blount (2,341) and Detroit’s Amanda Campbell (2,159).

The next event was the women’s javelin. Reigning champion Jessica Parham (Youngstown State) won the event again with a distance of 40.12m (131-07). She was followed by Schaal (40.01m), WSU’s Brooke McCurdy (38.85m), Loyola’s Kelly Egan (37.24m) and YSU’s Melanie Prelac (36.05m).

In the men’s javelin, Milwaukee’s Durell Busby took the title with a throw of 52.34m (171-09). Jeremy Getz of Valparaiso came in second with a 51.91m heave and YSU’s Kyle Seaver rounded out the top-three with a 50.60m throw.

This year’s 10,000-meter run was dominated by seniors, with four out of the top five runners running their last race. Loyola’s Josh Stein won the event with a time of 30:39.84. It is the second time in three years he has won the race. UIC’s Sam Kehoe came in second with a time of 30:46.58 and Loyola’s Ben Reifenberg rounded out the top-three with a time of 31:20.24.

Loyola’s Gina Valgoi won the women’s 10,000-meter run with a time of 36:14.56. She was followed by Youngstown State’s Anna Pompeo (36:46.07) and Butler’s Becky Howarth (36:58.36).

Competition will resume on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. with the men’s decathlon. Field events will start at 1:30 p.m. and running events are slated to begin at 3 p.m.

Men’s Team Standings (Through Two Events)

1. Loyola – 20

2. Milwaukee – 14

3. Valparaiso – 8

3. UIC – 8

5. Youngstown State – 7

6. Detroit – 5    

Women’s Team Standings (Through Two Events)

1. Youngstown State – 20

2. Loyola – 18

3. Butler – 8

3. Milwaukee – 8

5. Wright State – 6

6. Valparaiso – 2