Victoria Mitchell Breaks School Steeplechase Record At Mt. Sac Relays

April 16, 2005

Senior Victoria Mitchell set a school record in the steeplechase and ran the fifth-fastest time in the world this year to highlight a strong performance by the Butler track and field squad at the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, Calif., on Friday, April 15. The meet capped a busy day for the Bulldogs, who also competed at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational.

Mitchell finished fifth in the race at the Mt. Sac Relays with a school record time of 10:05.29. The top five finishers in the race posted the five fastest times in the world this year, and Mitchell was the top collegiate finisher among the five! Mitchell's time also topped the regional qualifying mark for the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championship.

Butler also had a school record performance from junior Ava Hutchinson, who placed seventh in the 1500 meter run in 4:24.60. Her effort also topped the regional qualifying mark.

Other top efforts for the Bulldogs were turned in by junior Maria Beitel, who posted a time of 17:31.08 in the 5,000 meter run, senior Monika Schneider, who ran a time of 11:05.11 in the steeplechase, and sophomore Kara Henry, who finished the steeplechase in 11:17.92.

The Butler men had four runners turn in regional qualifying performances in the 5,000 meter run. Senior John Frazer placed fifth in the race in 14:06.82, while senior Nick Goodliffe came in seventh in 14:09.22. Senior Thomas Frazer finished 13th in 14:12.81 and junior Scott Overall came in 18th in 14:14.89.

Earlier in the day, the Bulldogs had a strong showing at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational, highlighted by the 1500 meter run of senior Andrew Sherman. He placed seventh in the race with a school-record time of 3:44.05. Sherman was the second collegiate runner to finish, coming in behind third place finisher Joaquin Chapa of Stanford (3:43.22). Butler's Chris Smith finished 27th in the race in 3:58.36.

Freshman Isabelle Stoate posted a time of 2:11.34 in the 800 meter run, while sophomore Maggie Mathieson finished the 1500 meter run in 4:39.33. Freshman Genni Gardner recorded a time of 4:43.88 in the 1500. Freshman Kristi Hertzler ran the 100 meter hurdles in 17.06 and the 400 hurdles in 66.45, while senior Jill Snyder posted a jump of 10-00 in the pole vault.