Black Shines in Steeplechase as Track & Field Competes in Louisville

The Valparaiso University track & field program had numerous personal bests at this weekend’s Freeman/Wood Invitational, hosted by Louisville in Louisville, Ky. Freshman Kensington Black (Franklin, Ohio / Franklin Senior) turned in the third-best time in program history in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
 
How It Happened

• Black’s 3,000 steeple time of 11:00.12 on Saturday ranked third in a 19-athlete field. She turned in the best time by a Beacon in that event since Liz Owen’s program record of 10:37.45 in 2017.
• Other highlights on the track on Saturday included the 1,500 races for both genders. Fifth-year senior Chante Dixon (Benoni, South Africa / Kempton Park [UTSA]) finished in the top half of the field with a personal-best 4:45.81. On the men’s side, junior Alex Valerio (Rockford, Ill. / Boylan Catholic) established a new PR as well with a 4:08.29.
• In Friday’s field events, freshman Colin Maxwell (Jacksonville, Fla. / Wolfson) had the best finish by a Beacon, placing seventh of 24 in the men’s javelin. His toss covered 51.05 meters (167-6). Another notable performance in the field events came from junior Nate Smith (Lake Station, Ind. / Lake Station), whose heave of 14.24 meters (46-8.75) placed 14^th of 26.
• The majority of the team’s PRs for the weekend came in Friday’s field events. A day prior to her aforementioned 1,500 race, Dixon ran to a PR of 17:47.80 in the 5,000, placing seventh in a 45-runner field. She led a Valpo one-two punch in that event, as sophomore Laetitia Raoult (Guingamp, France / Florida International) crossed the line in 17:57.90, placing 11^th.
• The men’s 5,000 also saw a high finish by a Beacon as sophomore Karson Hollander placed 14^th of 73 with a time of 14:58.47. Sixth-year senior Reilly Ritter (Tabernacle, N.J. / Seneca [Florida Gulf Coast]) set a new PR in the 800 at 2:20.55.
• In the sprints, sophomore Taylor Pusateri (Portage, Ind. / Genoa-Kingston) improved her own mark that already ranked fifth in program history with a PR of 25.91. The men’s side in that event had a PR as well courtesy of junior Anthony Vassolo (Tinley Park, Ill. / Andrew), who dashed to the finish in 22.19.

 
Up Next
Next week, Valpo will compete in its final meet prior to the outdoor championships by heading to the Badger Challenge in Madison, Wis. on May 2-3. A link to live results will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.