INDIANAPOLIS - The Butler Men's Track and Field/ Cross Country teams have announced the signing of 16 male student-athletes for this upcoming fall. The 16 student-athletes will join the Bulldogs for the 2026-27 season.
 
"With multiple national and state champions added to our roster, as well as several of the most accomplished middle distance, and distance prospects in the midwest, we have secured a historic recruiting class," said Head Coach Matt Roe. "Without question, this is the most complete men's class in school history, positively impacting every area that we cover on the track, in the field, and in cross country. We have managed to simultaneously add both depth and quality while staying true to our vision of consistently recruiting high character and elite students to the program."
 
"I would like to thank Coach Fiebelkorn and Coach Hester for helping assemble our strongest recruiting class to date." 
 
Simon Jeukenne | Collège Saint-Barthélemy, Liège University | Chaudfontaine, Belgium
Distance | PRs: 3:41.46 1500M | 8:02.30 3000M | 14:00.02 5000M 
 
Jeukenne is a six-time Belgian Champion in U18 and U20. He earned sixth in a European 18U Championship in steeple chase. He has earned seventh-place in a European U20 Championship and 15th in a World U20 Championship. He is a two-time Belgium Cross Country Champion in U18 and U20 and a Belgium National Indoor 3,000-meter champion in U20. 
 
Why Jeukenne chose Butler: "I chose to join Butler University because it offers an excellent balance between academics and athletics. It is a highly respected university, and its track and field program has a great team and an outstanding coaching staff. I believe Butler is the best place for me to continue developing as both a student and an athlete, and I hope to achieve great results here."
 
Sam Hopp | Twinsburg High School | Twinsburg, Ohio
Distance | PRs: 1:51.72 800M | 49.49 400M | 4:16.20 1600M | 15:26.33 5K XC
 
Hopp is an eight-time All-Ohio in Track and Field and Cross Country. He was a State Champion at the 2025 Ohio DII Indoor Track and Field State Championships and a three-time finalist in the 800-meter. 
 
Why Hopp chose Butler: "I chose to join Butler University because of the coaches and the team. It is an elite group of people who can help push me to achieve my goals."
 
John Libs | Noblesville High School | Noblesville, Ind.
Distance | PRs: 9:05.74 3200M | 14:58.82 5K XC
 
Libs earned third at the Indiana State Cross Country Championships in 2025 and earned seventh in 2024. He was a two-time All-State in Cross Country and All-State in the 3200-meter event at the 2025 Indiana State Track and Field Championship. Libs was the Hoosier Crossroads Conference Athlete of the year in 2025 and earned Nike Cross Regionals third-team in 2024 and Nike Cross Regionals Midwest second-team in 2025. He was the 2025 IHSAA 4A Cross Country Runner of the Year.
 
Why Libs chose Butler: "I chose to join Butler for the driven and fun culture of the team and coaching staff."
 
Caleb Washington | Detroit Catholic Central High School | Novi, Mich.
Sprints/Hurdles | PRs: 48.38 400M | 14.91 110MH | 53.75 400MH | 37.86 300MH
 
Washington holds the Detroit Catholic Central record in the 400-meter event. He was a 2025 State Runner-Up in the 300-meter hurdles at the Michigan DI State Track and Field Championships. On his club team, he earned eight-time All-State and is a two-time State Champion. 
 
Why Washington chose Butler: "I chose to join Butler because the campus and academics fit what I need in a college. They are building a new and improved sprint/hurdle crew that I am excited to be a part of!"
 
Logan Smallwood | Limestone Community High School | Peoria, Ill.
Sprints | PRs: 10.72 100M | 22.08 200M | 48.50 400M 
 
Smallwood was two-time All-Sectional first team, and two-time All-State team honoree. Smallwood was a two-time IHSA State Runner-Up in the 400-meter dash. He holds the school record in the 400-meter, 4x100 relay, 4x200 relay, and 4x400 relay. 
 
Why Smallwood chose Butler: "I chose to join Butler because I love the location of the campus and the many opportunities Butler provides."
 
Jacob White-Hutsler | Lake Central High School | Crown Point, Ind.
Sprints | PRs: 10.86 100M | 21.60 200M 
 
White-Hutsler holds the Lake Central School Records in the 200-meter and 60-meter. He was a 2026 State Qualifier in the 200-meter at the Indiana State Track and Field Championships.
 
Why White-Hutsler chose Butler: "I chose to join Butler because it has an amazing business school with a great community that comes with it. It seems like a great place to also continue my track career and raise my potential to the fullest."
 
Ty Darting | Basehor-Linwood High School | Basehor, Kan. 
Sprints | PRs: 10.59 100M | 21.75 200M 
 
Darting is a two-time 5A Kansas State Champion in the 100-meter and 200-meter events. He was a two-time All-State honoree. He holds the Basehor-Linwood school record in the 100-meter and 4x100-meter relay. 
 
Why Darting chose Butler: "I chose to join Butler because it has a great community of people surrounding the program and campus. I also really liked how nice the campus is."
 
Caelan D'Onofrio | Bloomington High School North | Bloomington, Ind.
Distance | PRs: 1:53.00 800M | 4:07.92 1600M | 8:56.48 3200M | 14:56.11 5K XC
 
D'Onofrio was an All-State award winner while being a part of the 2025 Cross Country State Champion team. His team was also awarded the 2026 Indiana State Track and Field Champions. He holds the school records in the 1600-meters, 3200-meters, and 4x800-meter relay. D'Onofrio is a two-time state finalist in the 800-meter and 1600-meter and is a two-time State Champion in the 4x800-meter relay. 
 
Why D'Onofrio chose Butler: "I chose to join Butler because it felt like the right fit and I really like the team and the coaches. I feel like it is the place where I can have a big impact."
 
Ryan Georgeson | Medway High School | Komoka, Ontario, Canada
Middle Distance | PRs: 1:48.61 800M | 48.29 400M 
 
Georgeson was a four-time OFSAA champion and was an All-American at the Under Armour Nationals. He has seven Canadian National Golds and is the U18 600-meter national record holder. He also is the U19 600 and 800-meter Provincial record holder. He holds the school records in the 400 and 800-meter events. 
 
Why Georgeson chose Butler: "I chose to join Butler because I really liked the coaching staff and the facilities. The community around the campus were both top tier."
 
Kayden Elliott | Glen Innes High School | Glen Innes, NSW, Australia
Distance | PRs: 3:50.69 1500M | 8:22.79 3000M 
 
Elliott was the 2024 Australian National Cross Country Champion, 2025 Australian World Cross Country Trials winner and he earned 25th at the World Cross Country Championships. 
 
Why Elliott chose Butler: "I chose to join Butler because the Cross Country and Track program is incredible. The individuals that make up the team and the coaching staff are a great program I am excited to join."
 
Sam Long | Hamilton Southeastern | Fishers, Ind.
Sprints/Hurdles | PRs: 14.15 110MH | 37.99 300MH | 53.94 400MH
 
Long was the Hamilton County Meet Highest Point Scorer in 2025 and 2026. He was a member of the Hamilton Southeastern teams that won a Hamilton County Championship and two IHSAA Sectional Championships. He finished top-10 in the final Indiana State rankings in the 110-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles during his senior season. Long is a two-time State Qualifier in the 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles at the Indiana State Track and Field Championships. 
 
Why Long chose Butler: "I chose Butler primarily because I have only heard positive things about the university. Being from the Indianapolis suburbs, its close proximity to home was appealing, and I feel comfortable there. I was also attracted to the opportunities Butler offers through its strong connections to the Indianapolis business community and its location near downtown Indianapolis. From an athletic standpoint, it has always been a goal of mine to compete in college sports. As a track and field athlete, I was excited by the opportunity to be part of Butler Athletics and the culture that comes with competing at the Division I level. The campus itself stood out to me, and seeing iconic facilities like Hinkle Fieldhouse made me want to be part of the Butler community and athletic family. Altogether, those factors made Butler the clear choice for me and reinforced my desire to become a Bulldog."
 
Mick Temple | Pickerington North High School | Pickerington, Ohio
Distance | 4:13.35 1600M | 9:10.43 3200M | 14:44.93 5K XC
 
Temple was a four-time OHSAA Cross Country qualifier and three-time All-Ohio. He finished fourth at the 2025 Ohio State Cross Country Championships and was a State Finalist in the 1600-meter in 2024, and 3200-meter in 2025 for the Ohio State Track and Field Championship. He holds the school record for track in the 1600-meter, 3200-meter, Distance Medley Relay and the cross country record in the 5K. 
 
Why Temple chose Butler: "I chose Butler because of the tight-knit community, exceptional coaching staff, and strong business program."
 
Abe Cerone | Shrine Catholic High School | Royal Oak, Mich.
Middle Distance | PRs: 22.96 200M | 49.33 400M | 1:52.24 800M | 4:08.31 1600M | 15:25.05 5K XC
 
Cerone was nine-time All-State, and three-time State Champion most recently in the 800-meter and 1600-meter at the 2026 Michigan State Track and Field Championship, where he became a two-time State Meet record holder. He holds the school records for track in the 800-meter, 1600-meter, 3200-meter, and the cross country record in the 5K.
 
Why Cerone chose Butler: "I chose Butler for the excellent coaching and reputation that the school has built on the track and in the classroom."
 
Hagen Buechler | La Costa Canyon High School | San Diego, Calif.
Jumps | PR: 46' 11.75" Triple Jump
 
Buechler was a conference champion and state medalist in high school. He was a six-time school record holder, all in the triple jump event. Buechler was a State Finalist in the triple jump at the 2026 California (CIF) Track and Field Championships. 
 
Why Buechler chose Butler: "I chose Butler because I was interested in the new engineering school, and I loved the city of Indianapolis. When I took my visit, I loved the team and coaches."
 
Lucas Eaton | New Castle | New Castle, Ind.
Jumps | PR: 6' 9.25" High Jump
 
Eaton was All-Conference, All-State, Sectional Champion, and Regional Champion through his high school career. He holds the school record in the high jump event and finished fourth at the 2026 Indiana State Track and Field Championship. 
 
Why Eaton chose Butler: "I chose Butler because I felt like it was the right place for me the first time I visited." 
 
Blake Larrison | Plainfield | Plainfield, Ind.
Sprints | PRs: 6.84 60M | 10.45 100M | 21.80 200M
 
Larrison is joining his brother Troy on the track and field team. Larrison earned third in the 60-meter event at the 2026 Hoosier State Relays (Large School) and is ranked third in the 100-meter event out of the entire state of Indiana. 
 
Why Larrison chose Butler: "I chose Butler because I think it's a very good school and I'm excited to see what the track team can do. I also have lots of family that go here and it's close to home for me."