JACKSONVILLE, FLA. - A successful night in Florida has earned a trip to Oregon for Butler track standouts Kirsty Legg and Mara Olson.  Both Butler runners posted "Top 12" finishes at the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field East Preliminary Round on Saturday, May 31, and both now will be competing at the NCAA national meet.

Legg, a senior from Middlesborough, England, earned her trip to the NCAA National Championship in Eugene, Oregon, with a ninth place finish in the women's 1,500 meter run.  She finished second in the second heat of the quarterfinals with a time of 4:15.83.  Her time topped her own school record of 4:16.72, set earlier this season.

Emily Lipari of Villanova placed first in the women's 1,500 meter run in 4:14.64.  

Olson matched her teammate's success with a 12th place finish in the women's 5,000 meter run.  She covered the distance in 16:09.74, while placing seventh in the second heat of the event.  Elinor Kirk of UAB led the 5,000 meter field in 15:53.93.

The national berth continues a remarkable year for the Butler junior from Minneapolis, Minn.  She earned All-America honors while helping Butler to a third place finish at the 2013 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship, and then she became the first female athlete in Butler history to earn a berth in the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championship.  Olson earned second team All-America recognition at the indoor meet.    

Legg will be the first to see action at the national outdoor championship, being hosted at renowned Hayward Field.  The semifinals of the women's 1,500 meter run is scheduled for Thursday, June 12.  The finals of the women's 5,000 meter run will be held on Saturday, June 14.