Butler Turns In Strong Performance At Gladstein Invite

Butler’s track and field squad, in action for the second consecutive week, recorded a school record, a pair of individual wins and several lifetime best performances at the Gladstein Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 22-23.  The two-day invitational meet was hosted by Indiana University at the Gladstein Field House in Bloomington.

Freshman Katie Clark turned in one of Butler’s top performances with a school-record effort in the women’s mile invitational.  Clark placed fifth in the race in 4:53.30, breaking the previous school mark of 4:54.01 set by Genni Gardner in 2007.

Freshman Lauren McKillop remained unbeaten this season, winning the women’s 5,000 meter race in 17:13.13.  Senior Sara Bird and sophomore Lauren Haberkorn posted lifetime best efforts in the same race.  Bird placed seventh in 17:46.07, while Haberkorn came in 11th in 18:20.75.

Butler’s other individual victory was turned in by freshman Craig Jordan, who won the men’s 800 in 1:56.22.

The Bulldogs had a pair of runner-up finishes in the men’s competition.  Senior Rob Mullett finished second behind Butler assistant coach Darren Gauson in the men’s mile invitational.  Gauson won the race in 4:04.49 and Mullett crossed the line less than a second later in 4:05.32.  Senior Joe Macdonald finished a strong fifth in 4:07.62.

And junior Madison Roeder placed runner-up in the men’s 3,000 in a lifetime best 8:24.62.

Butler also had a solid showing in the men’s 3,000, won by former Butler runner Scott Overall in 7:51.36.  Senior Andy Baker placed seventh in the race in 8:20.81, while senior Stephen Lisgo came in eighth in 8:35.56.

Other top performances by the Bulldogs were turned in by freshman Shelbi Burnett, who finished third I the women’s 800 in 2:16.93, and junior Matt Lawder, who placed fourth in the men’s 5,000 in 15:10.30.  Junior Rosie Edwards finished seventh in the women’s 3,000 invitational in 10:28.82 and freshman Romeo Harper came in fifth in the men’s 200 in 22.92.  Harper also placed ninth in the men’s 60 in 7.16.