Bulldogs Set Three Records At League Track Meet

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO -- Butler swept all four running finals and came away with three league records on the first day of the 2012 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championship at the Watson and Tressel Training Site in Youngstown, Ohio, on Saturday (Feb. 25). The two-day league meet will conclude on Sunday (Feb. 26).

The Bulldogs put on a dominant performance in the four running events decided on the opening day. Butler won the men's and women's 5,000 meter runs and the women's distance medley relay in league record times and also captured the men's distance medley relay.

Junior Katie Clark (above) captured the women's 5,000 in 16:23.75, topping the previous league mark of 16:49.68 set by Elise Sigg of Milwaukee a year ago. Junior Lauren McKillop came in fourth in the race in 17:18.47, while senior Becky Howarth finished sixth in 17:18.73.

Butler then captured the women's distance medley relay in a school- and league-record time of 11:35.83. The team of freshman Mara Olson, sophomore Maddie Cassidy, junior Kaitlyn Love and junior Kirsty Legg topped the previous mark of 11:49.13, set by Butler in 2005.

Freshman Callum Hawkins captured the men's 5,000 in 14:15.55, breaking the league mark of 14:23.57 set by Butler's Gary Blackman in 2004. Butler's James Martin came in fifth in the event in 14:36.49.

Sophomores Harry Ellis, Andrew Wallace and Ross Clarke teamed with freshman Connor Love to win the men's distance medley relay. The quartet finished in 10:01.66 to capture the title.

Butler's remaining points on the first day came from sophomore Nigel Spears, who placed fifth in the men's long jump with a leap of 6.88 meters.

The Bulldogs also had the top two qualifiers in the men's 800 meter run. Freshman Tom Curr (1:53.06) and junior Craig Jordan (1:53.16) qualified first and second, respectively, in the race, while Connor Love (1:56.35) also advanced to the finals. Olson (2:16.01) and Kaitlyn Love (2:16.25) advanced to the finals of the women's 800.

The Bulldogs finished the first day in third place in the men's competition with 24 points and in fourth place in the women's standings with 25 points. Loyola (Ill.) grabbed the first day lead in the men's race with 39 points, while Milwaukee ended the opening day in first place in the women's standings with 55 points.