INDIANAPOLIS -- Following the opening weekend of the 2013 outdoor season, Loyola sophomore Sam Penzenstadler (Oshkosh, Wis.) and Valparaiso junior Nicole Zehel have been named the Horizon League Runners of the Week.
Penzenstadler picked up a pair of first-place finished at the Vanderbilt Black and Gold Invite. In a field of 40 runners, Penzenstadler won the 800m with a time of 1:50.08, the third-fastest time in Ramblers history. That time also ranks third in the NCAA West Regional rankings.
The sophomore also placed first in a field of 12 in the 1500m with a 3:50.06 finish.
Loyola will return to action this weekend, splitting between three meets: the Ted Haydon Invitiational in Chicago, the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina and the Stanford Invite in Palo Alto, Calif.
Valparaiso raced this weekend at the Gene and Rose Edmonds Invitational, where Zehel's 5:57.94 took first place in the 1500m against a field of eight. The junior was the only female runner to earn a win for Valpo at the meet.
The Crusaders will return to action this weekend at the Mike Poehlin Invitiational in West Lafayette, Ind.
2013 Horizon League Outdoor Track Runners of the Week:
March 26: Sam Penzenstadler, Loyola; Nicole Zehel, Valparaiso
