Valparaiso's Mickens and Smith sweep men outdoor track and field honors

INDIANAPOLIS – Valparaiso senior Jarrett Mickens (Aurora, Ill.) and freshman Julian Smith (Chicago, Ill.) swept the men’s outdoor track and field athlete of the week accolades. The  Crusaders competed in the Chicagoland Championships this past weekend in Chicago, Ill.

Mickens set a new school record in the long jump, breaking a 35 year old mark set by Jeff Thomas in 1976. He broke the record by a quarter-inch, jumping 7.37 meters, a mark that currently holds first-place in the League. He also competed in the triple jump, recording a third-place finish out of 36 competitors, jumping 14.22 meters. Mickens was also a member of the 4 x 100 meter relay team that took ninth-place.

Smith won the 200 meter, finishing in a time of 21.92, which currently leads the League. He also competed in the 100 meter (10.84), recording a second-place finish out of 49 partiticipants, currently placing him second in the League. Along with Mickens, Smith competed in the 4 x 100 meter relay, finishing in a time of 43.65.

Valparaiso is back in action next weekend competing in the Dave Rankin Invitational in West Lafayette, Ind. The meet is set to begin at 3pm on Friday, April 15 and 10am Saturday, April 16.