Mark Tucker Breaks Butler Steeplechase Record

April 1, 2002

Junior Mark Tucker turned in two impressive performances at the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., and he returned to Indianapolis with a Butler track and field record in his pocket. The transfer distance runner from Geelong, Australia, earned provisional qualifier status for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship in both the 5,000 meter run and the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the nationally-prominent meet, and he broke Butler's 26-year-old steeplechase record!

Tucker placed runner-up in the "B" section of the steeplechase in 8:50.70 (his time would have placed him fifth in the Top Section). That effort was more than two seconds faster than the Butler record of 8:52.9, set by John Kessler in 1976. Tucker also placed 13th in the Top Section of the 5,000 meter race in 13:58.03. Both of Tucker's efforts bettered the NCAA provisional qualifier standard.

Also earning NCAA provisional qualifier status at Stanford was senior distance runner Justin Young, who placed 19th in the Top Section of the 10,000 meter run in 29:11.08. Butler's other runners at the Stanford Invitational were senior Richard Vint (13th in the 1,500 meter run, 3:45.31), junior Marty Fedmowski (20th in the 5,000 meter run, 14:30.61) and junior Brad Bennett (23rd in the 5,000 meter run, 14:38.02).

While head coach Joe Franklin had five runners competing in California, the rest of Butler's men's and women's track teams were in action at the Gerald England Invitational, hosted by the University of Indianapolis. Butler's men placed fifth of 18 teams, while Butler's women came in fourth of 14 squads.

Sophomores Brian Dunn and Trent Elliott each picked up an individual title at the Gerald England Invitational. Dunn won the 800 meter run in 1:57.81, while Elliott captured the 400 meter intermediate hurdles in 54.20. Freshman Corey Norman finished runner-up in the pole vault with a leap of 13-0.

In the women's competition, sophomore Rholonda Ash won the 800 meter run with a time of 2:18.82. She also placed seventh in the 1,500 meter run in 4:57.29. Runner-up finishes were captured by Butler freshmen Jill Snyder (pole vault, 9-06) and Kaylee Quilling (high jump, 5-02).