Kirsty Legg, Kris Gauson Earn Top League Honors

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Butler senior Kris Gauson has been named 2011 Horizon League Men’s Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year, while sophomore Kirsty Legg was tabbed as the 2011 Horizon League Women’s Indoor Track and Field Co-Athlete of the Year, along with Cassandra Lloyd of Wright State.

Gauson broke the four-minute mile barrier this past season, recording a time of 3:59.74 in the men’s mile run at the Alex Wilson Invitational on March 5.  He won both the men’s 800 meter run and the men’s mile run at the 2011 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championship.  Gauson was ranked No. 21 in the mile this year, the highest ranking of any Horizon League track and field athlete.

Winner of the 2009 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year award, Gauson is just the second men’s athlete in league history to win the top postseason honor more than once.  Butler’s Scott Overall earned the league recognition in 2006 and 2007.

Legg was the highest-ranked female runner in the Horizon League this season, achieving a No. 21 ranking in the women’s mile run.  She captured three titles at the 2011 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championship, winning the women’s 800 meter run, the women’s mile run and anchoring Butler’s winning Distance Medley Relay team.  The Butler sophomore standout set a League Championship record in the prelims of the 800 with a time of 2:10.72.

Legg has captured Horizon League titles in both the 800 and mile in each of her first two seasons at Butler.  She will have an opportunity in 2012 to become the first female in league history to win both the 800 and mile in each of her first three seasons.

Lloyd earned a share of the Female Athlete of the Year Award for the second consecutive year.  She captured her third straight title in the 60-meter hurdles at the league championship.