NEW YORK, N.Y. - Nigel Spears and Nicole Hudec became the first Butler athletes to win a BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Medal on the opening day of conference championship in New York on Friday (Feb. 21).  Butler also picked up a third place medal in the women's distance medley relay on the opening day.

Spears placed third in the men's long jump with a leap of 6.88 meters (22-07 feet).  Hudec came in third in the women's long jump with a jump of 5.56 meters (18-03).  Both athletes earned six points for the Bulldogs.

The women's distance medley relay team of Shelbi Burnett, Kelly Davidson, Colleen Weatherford and Mara Olson finished third overall with a time 11:37.49.  The Butler men, with a team of Luke Zygmunt, Matthew Schumacker, Andrew Wallace and Chris Kelsey, came in sixth in the distance medley relay with a time 10:10.91.

All remaining final events will be held on Saturday (Feb. 22) at the New Balance Track & Field Center.