May 8, 2003
Senior Gary Blackman won two individual titles and sophomore Monika Schneider set a league record in the steeplechase to spark Butler on the first day of the 2003 Horizon League Track and Field Championship at the Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium in Indianapolis on Thursday, May 8. Butler's men and women both stood second after the opening day of the two-day competition.
Blackman opened the league meet in blazing fashion, winning the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase in a conference record 8:57.29. He broke the previous league mark of 9:03.40, set by his former teammate, Richard Vint, last year. Blackman then pulled off a stunning double by winning the 10,000 meter run in 31:10.58!
The Bulldogs claimed three of the top six spots in the men's 10,000 meter run. Junior Lennon Wicks finished runner-up in the event in 31:19.66, while sophomore Bill Peterman came in sixth in 31:38.07.
Schneider won the women's 3000 meter steeplechase in a league record 10:40.44. She finished just ahead of teammate Bethany Gaskill, who placed runner-up in 10:51.72. Senior Lois Bowles, who led the race into the final lap, finished fifth in 11:33.89. Bowles set the previous league record of 10:54.34 in 2001.
Senior Lissa Vogley also turned in a stellar performance while winning the women's 10,000 meter run in 36:54.06. She ran the entire race in the rain and recorded the third-fastest women's 10,000 meter time in league history.
Sophomore Rob Hartman claimed a runner-up finish in the javelin with a throw of 163-02, while sophomore Corey Norman placed third in the pole vault with a leap of 13-05.5. Freshman Mitch Briggs came in sixth in the men's long jump with a leap of 20-10.50, while senior Eric Michielutti placed sixth in the men's hammer throw with a toss of 142-01.
Detroit leads the men's competition after the first day of action, while UW-Milwaukee tops the women's standings.