Final Results (PDF)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Butler's Erik Peterson, who won both the 3K and 5K at the championships, was named Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet at the 2017 BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Championships. Peterson's performance keyed a third-place finish by the Bulldogs. The two days of competition took place at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, N.Y.
 
"That's the greatest team track performance I've been part of here at Butler," said coach Matt Roe. "And it's easily the best indoor men's performance in school history. What we lack in depth, we more than made up for in sheer will and toughness. Every single guy was on point today. Every single one. There was a contagious energy in this group, and the execution was flawless."
 
Butler trailed BIG EAST champion DePaul by only 18 points and was only seven points behind second-place Marquette. The Bulldogs beat defending champion Villanova by 28 points and was 39 points better than Georgetown. Entering today, Butler had not beaten either in the indoor or outdoor championships.
 
Butler's Peterson won his second gold of the championship as he won the men's 3,000-meter race with a time of 8:05.00. He won the 5,000 meters Friday. Peterson accounted for 20 points for the Bulldogs, trailing teammate Wade Walder, who had 23 points over the two days.
 
Walder won the men's heptathon with a score of 4,553. Teammate Richard Clark came in third (4,210). Walder also finished second in the 60-meter hurdles (8.63).
 
Johnny Leverenz won the men's 800 meter run at a time of 1:49.81. Butler's Dakota Thompson and Sam Robinson both reached the height of 2.00 meters, tying for third in the high jump. Euan Makepeace finished fourth in the mile with a season-best 4:07.81.
 
Butler's women finished sixth in the championships.
 
"I am happy for our women," said Roe. "We were hoping to beat Providence and Xavier, and we achieved that goal. We were really close to Georgetown and that was encouraging. Seniors Olivia Pratt and Olivia Anderson were key for us this weekend."
 
Anderson finished third in both the 800 meters (2:10.32) and mile (4:45.60). Teammate Josephine Thestrup was fifth in the mile.
 
Pratt, one day after capturing the BIG EAST title in the 5,000 meters, finished fourth in the 3,000 meters in a time of 9:32.54. Pratt has won the indoor 5,000 meters in consecutive seasons. Those two titles, along with the outdoor 10,000 meters last season, give her three so far in her career.
 
Xavier's Russell Platt earned the High Point Performer of the Meet with 28 points. Platt won the 60 meter and 200 meter dash title.
 
Villanova's Siofra Cleirigh Buttner was voted BIG EAST Most Outstanding Performer in Track Events. St. John's senior Adriana Wright won the meet's High Point Performer on the women's side.
 
The All-BIG EAST Indoor Track & Field team will be released on Tuesday, Feb. 28.
 
Women (FINAL)
1. Marquette – 173.5 pts.
2. Villanova – 149.5
3. St. John's – 129
4. DePaul –90
5. Georgetown – 53
6. Butler – 44
7. Providence – 38
8. Xavier –24
 
Men (FINAL)
1. DePaul – 146 pts.
2. Marquette – 135
3. Butler – 128
4. Villanova – 100
5. Georgetown – 89
6. Xavier – 74
7. Providence – 22
 
Men's Coaching Staff of the Year: DePaul
Men's Most Outstanding Performer in Field Events: Trevor Kintyhtt, DePaul
Men's Most Outstanding Performer in Track Events: Erik Peterson, Butler
Men's High Point Performer of the Meet: Russell Platt, Xavier (28 points)
 
Women's Coaching Staff of the Year: Marquette
Women's Most Outstanding Performer in Field Events: Monique Felix, Marquette
Women's Most Outstanding Performer in Track Events: Siofra Cleirigh Buttner, Villanova
Women's High Point Performer of the Meet: Adriana Wright, St. John's (32 points)
 
 
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