The Bulldogs will open their indoor season on Saturday as they make the trip to Fort Wayne, Ind. to compete in the Mastodon Open. The meet will be held at the Athletics Center Fieldhouse and is set to start at 11 a.m.

The Butler men will compete against in-state foe IUPUI, BIG EAST opponent Xavier, and Northern Kentucky. The women will face in-state foes Ball State, IUPUI, and Fort Wayne along with Xavier and Northern Kentucky.

"We are excited to open our season in Fort Wayne this weekend. This meet is primarily geared towards our athletes in the sprints, jumps, hurdles, and throwing events," Head coach Matt Roe said. 

"We have a lot of new faces in these areas along with a handful of accomplished returners.  I know they are itching to put the uniform on for the first time after a solid semester of training.  It should be a lot of fun."

The Bulldogs return sophomore Wade Walder, the 2017 Indoor Track and Field BIG EAST champion in the heptathlon and the 2017 Outdoor Track and Field BIG EAST champion in the decathlon. During his freshman campaign, Walder was named to the Outdoor Track and Field All-BIG EAST team in the decathlon, 110 meters, and the pole vault. Walder was also named to the Indoor Track and Field All-BIG EAST team in the 60-meter hurdles and the heptathlon.

Matt Lumbar also returns for the Bulldogs. The senior was named to the 2017 Outdoor Track and Field All-BIG EAST team for the 10,000-meter run. Junior Allie Vogeler looks to continue a successful Butler career as well. Vogeler is the 2017 Outdoor Track and Field BIG EAST champion in the 400-meter hurdles and was named to the 2016 Outdoor Track and Field All-BIG EAST team for the 400-meter hurdles

A live video stream of the meet can be found here.