OXFORD, OHIO - Butler closed out the road portion of its pre-BIG EAST Championship outdoor track and field schedule with a strong showing at the Miami RedHawk Invitational, including several lifetime best efforts. The multi-team meet at George Rider Track wrapped up on Saturday, April 26.
Senior Nigel Spears and junior Nicole Hudec turned in two of Butler's top performances in the long jump. Spears placed fourth in the men's competition with a personal best jump of 22-07.25, one of the top marks in the BIG EAST.
Hudec came in fourth in the women's long jump with an outdoor personal best leap of 18-01. It was part of a busy afternoon, which also saw her place tenth in the 100 meter dash in 12.31 and anchor the women's 4 X 100 meter relay team which came in fifth in a season-best 48.83.
Joining Hudec on the relay unit were Kelly Davidson, Kiley Shelley and Maddie Cassidy. The 4 X 100 time was just shy of Butler's school record of 48.25, set a year ago.
Cassidy also had a strong performance in the women's 400 meter dash, finishing fourth in a lifetime best of 58.00. Her time was just 0.21 off the school record set by Rholonda Ash in 2002.
Freshman Maddie Westerhoff placed third in the women's 1500 meter run with a lifetime best mark of 4:43.89, while senior Shelbi Burnett came in sixth in the race in 4:45.28. Westerhoff also finished eighth in the women's 800 in 2:22.64.
Seniors Ross Clarke and Billy Klimczak recorded Butler's highest individual finishes on the afternoon. Clarke placed runner-up in the men's 800 meter run in 1:58.04, while Klimczak came in second in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase in 9:49.87.
The Bulldogs also picked up "Top 5" individual finishes in the women's steeplechase, the men's javelin and the men's discus. Alex Van Hoof finished fourth in the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase in 11:35.38, while Rob Branflick came in fifth in the javelin with a toss of 165-10. Dominique Stephens placed fourth in the discus with a throw of 135-02.
Stephens went on to finish seventh in the men's shot put (42-10.75) and 11th in the men's hammer throw (125-11).
Senior Andrew Wallace posted a sixth place finish in the men's 400 meter dash in 49.51.
Butler will host the Stan Lyons Invitational on Saturday, May 3. It will be the team's final tune-up before the BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championship, May 10-11.
