Butler Cracks Top 50 In Men's Track And Field

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Butler has cracked the “Top 50” in the 2010 U. S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Outdoor National Team Rankings for the first time this season.  The Bulldogs moved up six spots from a week ago and climbed to No. 47 in the rankings released on April 20.

The USTFCCCA rankings are based on current individual national marks and returning marks from 2009.  Butler is the top-ranked team in the state (Indiana is 59, Purdue is 60, Indiana State is 101 and Notre Dame is 124) and the top-ranked team in the Horizon League.

Butler athletes currently ranked in the Top 50 are senior Stephen Lisgo (5th, Steeplechase), Rob Mullett (6th, Steeplechase), Kris Gauson (14th, 1500 meters) and Joe Macdonald (27th, 1500 meters; 31st, 5,000 meters).

The Bulldogs placed 40th in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championship a year ago, the best finish in school history.  Butler also is coming off its second-best performance (53rd) in the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championship.