By placing all five of its runners among the top 17 spots, Butler claimed a third-place finish at the 2018 BIG EAST Cross Country Championships presented by Jeep. The Championships were held at the Northview Church Course in Carmel, Ind., Saturday morning.  

"We knew this was going to be a three team race for the title and the scores today reflected that battle.  There was not a lot of margin to be had and unfortunately, we came up a little short, particularly in the middle few kilometers," head coach Matt Roe said.  "That said, I like how we rallied late to close down on Villanova. It showed how strong this group is and how prepared they are to run the 10k distance at Regionals.  We just need to make a few adjustments. Better concentration and commitment to running as a group will yield the result we are looking for in two weeks."
 
Euan Makepeace led the Bulldogs with a fifth-place finish individually, crossing the line in 24:29.4 as 85 runners navigated the 8k course. Barry Keane finished sixth (24:42.0).
 
Georgetown repeated as the winner of the team title. Georgetown placed all five of its scoring runners among the top 11. Georgetown's depth prevailed over Villanova in the team competition. Villanova had the individual winner, junior Casey Comber, and the third-place finisher, senior Andrew Marston. Comber's time over the 8K was 23:59.7 and Marston finished in 24:16.5.  Georgetown took second and fourth this year with senior Nick Wareham coming in as the runner-up in 24:08.7 and junior Jack Van Scoter taking fourth in 24:22.6.
 
Comber, Wareham and Marston made their move at the 5k mark, taking the five-man front pack that included Van Scoter and Makepeace and turning it into a three-man group.
 
Butler's team total of 53 trailed only Georgetown (32) and Villanova (45). Marquette and Providence were next, both at 117.
 
Bobby Johnson was the third Bulldog across the line, claiming the 12^th spot in 25:08.7. He and teammate Johnny Leverenz (13^th, 25:09.7) passed several runners over the final kilometer for important points. Butler's fifth scorer was Clark Otte, who came in 17^th at 25:12.7.
 
All five Bulldogs earned All-BIG EAST honors with Makepeace and Keane taking home first-team accolades, while Johnson, Leverenz and Otte got recognition on the second team.
 
Eric Baugh (29^th, 25:46.5), Kyle Harris (31^st, 25:50.6), Blake Roberts (37^th, 25:59.7), and Daniel Lawton (54^th, 26:44.2) were the other four Bulldogs competing on Saturday.
 
The Georgetown men's coaching staff, led by head coach Brandon Bonsey, was selected BIG EAST Men's Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
The Bulldogs are next in action Friday, Nov. 9, making the short trip to Terre Haute, Ind., for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional.
 
Men's Individual Leaders

1. Casey Comber, Villanova               23:59.7
2. Nick Wareham, Georgetown        24:08.7
3. Andrew Marston, Villanova           24:16.5
4. Jack Van Scoter, Georgetown      24:22.6
5. Euan Makepeace, Butler                24:29.4
6. Barry Keane, Butler                         24:42.0
7. Matt Bouthillette, Georgetown   24:47.6
8. Christian Liddell, Georgetown      24:51.6
9. Daniel Pederson, Marquette         24:55.5
10. Charlie O'Donovan, Villanova       24:58.5

Men's Team Leaders

1. Georgetown       32
2. Villanova             45
3. Butler                   53
4. Marquette           117
5. Providence          117
6. Xavier                   169
7. DePaul                 209
8. Creighton            236
9. Seton Hall            288