Stephen Lisgo Earns All-America Honors At NCAA Track Championship
Junior Stephen Lisgo was the last Butler runner to compete at
the 2009 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championship in
Fayetteville, Ark. And when he completed his race, he walked
off the University of Arkansas track with a Butler record and the
status of All-American!
For the second time at the national meet, Lisgo had to wait out a
weather delay before heading to the start line. And for the
second time, he shook off the delay with a stellar race
performance.
The men’s 3,000 meter steeplechase started two hours later
than scheduled, but it didn’t alter Lisgo’s
approach. He kept pace with the best runners in the nation
throughout the race and then moved up from sixth place to third in
the final lap. The Butler distance ace crossed the finish
line in 8:35.49, just 0:00.37 behind runner-up Hillary Bor of Iowa
State. Kyle Perry of Brigham Young captured the title in
8:29.24.
"Steve had an incredible race tonight," said Butler head coach Matt Roe after Lisgo's performance. "He moved through the field with great poise and toughness, and he executed flawlessly."
Lisgo’s time smashed the previous Butler steeplechase
record of 8:42.5, set by Mark Tucker in 2002. His third place
finish was the best by a Butler runner in the national meet since
2005, when Victoria Mitchell captured a national championship in
the steeplechase!
The big finish by Lisgo ended three days of competition for three
Butler runners. Junior Joe MacDonald ended his season in the
prelims of the men’s 5,000 meter run, while junior Kris
Gauson finished his campaign in the prelims of the men’s
1,500 meter run. The three were the only runners from the
Horizon League competing at the national championship.
"The future is bright for us," added Roe. "Top to bottom, our men's group has improved tremendously this year. When you add Steve next year with a fully healthy Kris Gauson and Joe MacDonald with more training under his belt - Wow! We have the potential to be very dangerous at the NCAA Meet."
