Results (PDF)

The No. 26 Bulldog women are BIG EAST Champions for the first time in program history. Butler claimed the 2019 Conference Championship on Saturday, Nov. 2 in Kenosha, Wis.

That Championship Feeling
"We know it's always going to be an uphill battle with Providence, Georgetown, and Villanova," said coach Matt Roe. "They are three of the top programs in NCAA history. We are just trying to coach the toughest, most committed, best executing group of developmental athletes we can find. I don't know if people can grasp what we accomplished today. But we can, and our group believed the whole time we could win. This group has been hardened by hard work and their bond is unbreakable."

The Timing Breakdown
Emily Royston led the Bulldogs, taking fifth individually with a time of 22:00.9. Angelina Ellis was right behind her in sixth, clocking in at 22:06.2. Josephine Thestrup took 10^th overall with a time of 22:16.4.

Maddie McLain (22:24.9) and Camille Hines (22:33.1) finished 14^th and 17^th respectively to round out the Bulldogs' five scorers.

Margo Hornocker (22:52.6) and Mia Beckham (23:17.6) completed the Bulldogs' seven. Hornocker was 23^rd and Beckham was 30^th in the field.

The Team Dynamic
The Butler women used their depth to end Villanova's two-year run as team champions.  The Bulldogs, who compiled 52 points to Villanova's 61 points, finished from fifth through 17th.  Villanova's Lydia Olivere was the women's champion with a time of 21:25.5 in the 6K run. Georgetown was close behind in third place with 65 points. The Hoyas' top performer was Madeline Perez, who was ninth with a time of 22:13.4.
 
Villanova's Olivere held off Xavier junior Anna Kostarellis who finished 10 seconds behind Olivere with a time of 21:39.9.

All Five in the Top-20
Royston (sixth), Ellis (seventh), and Thestrup (10th) all finished in the top ten, earning All-BIG EAST First Team honors. McLain (14^th) and Hines (17^th) both finished in the top-20, claiming all-conference second team honors. All five Butler scorers were separated by just 30 seconds.

Coaching Staff of the Year
With the title, Roe, along with assistant coaches Jared Nelson and Keigan Culler, were named BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year.

Up Next
The No. 26 women will use the next two weeks to prepare for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Friday, Nov. 15. The Bulldogs will compete against 30 teams from around the Great Lakes Region.

The results of regional will determine who qualifies for the 2019 NCAA Cross Country Championships. A total of 31 teams compete as a team at the NCAA DI Championships on both the men's and women's side. 18 bids are automatic (top two teams in each of nine regions), 13 bids are at-large.

Women's Individual Leaders

1. Lydia Olivere, Villanova                  21:29.5
2. Anna Kostarellis, Xavier                  21:39.8
3. Ann Campbell, Villanova                21:55.5
4. Maria Coffin, Providence               21:56.5
5. Emily Royston, Butler                     22:00.9
6. Angelina Ellis, Butler                       22:06.2
7. Abbey Wheeler, Providence          22:09.3
8. Maggie Smith, Villanova                22:12.5
9. Madeline Perez, Georgetown       22:13.4
10. Josephine Thestrup, Butler            22:16.4

Women's Team Leaders

1. Butler                   52
2. Villanova             61
3. Georgetown       65
4. Providence          92
5. Xavier                   109
6. Marquette           149
7. Creighton            201
8. DePaul                 250
9. St. John's             257
10. Seton Hall            287