Butler's Becky Lyne Posts NCAA's Best Time

April 21, 2003

Junior Becky Lyne posted the fastest 800 meter time in the NCAA Division I this spring, and she joined teammate Gary Blackman as an NCAA regional qualifier during Butler's three days of track and field competition in California. The Bulldogs participated in both the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, Calif., and the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational in Claremont, Calif., Thursday-Saturday, April 18-20.

Lyne, who hails from Sheffield, England, turned in the most stunning performance of the weekend, finishing runner-up to unattached competitor Marian Burnett in the 800 meter run at the Mt. Sac Relays. Lyne's time of 2:03.84 is the fastest 800 meter mark turned in by a NCAA Division I runner this season, and it broke the previous Butler school record of 2:09.84, set by Rholonda Ash in 2001. The effort also earned Lyne a berth in the NCAA regional meet, which is the qualifying meet for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

Butler also picked up a regional qualifier in the men's competition at the Mt. Sac Relays when Blackman placed 10th in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 8:46.05. Blackman's personal record was just four seconds off the school mark of 8:42.5, set by national meet qualifier Mark Tucker last year.

Five additional Butler athletes competed at the Mt. Sac Relays. Senior Lissa Vogley posted a time of 17:16.22 in the 5,000 meter run, while freshman Maria Beitel notched a personal record 17:51.32 in the same race. Junior Lennon Wicks recorded a 14:47.88 in the men's 5,000 meter run. Senior Bethany Gaskill had a personal record of 11:14.95 in the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase, and senior Mary Reeves posted a time of 4:36.94 in the women's 1500 meter run.

Butler also had a strong performance from freshman Brandon Cook at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational. Cook finished 17th in a 100-runner field in the 200 meter dash with a time of 21.79. He also placed 24th in the 100 meter dash in 11.18.

Back in Indianapolis, junior Brian Dunn won the 5,000 meter run at the Indy Relays. Dunn paced the field in 14:54.48.