Butler Men, Women Place Third At Horizon League Championship

May 11, 2007

Strong performances in the middle distance and distance events helped lead Butler to third place finishes in both the men's and women's competition at the 2007 Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championship, which wrapped up at the Michael A. Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium in Indianapolis on Friday (May 11). UW-Milwaukee captured both the men's and women's titles at the league championship meet.

The Bulldogs added four individual titles to the one captured by senior Kara Henry in the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase on the first day of competition. Junior Genni Gardner won the women's 800 meter run in 2:13.10, junior Isabelle Stoate captured the women's 1500 meter run in 4:41.62, senior Andrew Toward won the men's 1500 meter run in 3:50.15 and freshman Justin Roeder took the men's 5000 meter run in 15:09.83.

It was Butler's depth in the 1500 meter events and the men's 5000 that helped propell the Bulldogs to a top three finish. The Bulldogs swept the top four spots in the women's 1500 and took four of the top five positions in the men's 1500. Butler also grabbed four of six spots in the men's 5000.

Following Stoate in the women's 1500 were Henry (4:42.17), senior Ava Hutchinson (4:47.02) and sophomore Karrie Hawitt (4:48.39). In the men's 1500, senior Vinny Ambrico (3:52.78) finished runner-up to Toward, senior Chris Smith (3:55.25) came in fourth and junior Darren Gauson (3:55.87) came in fifth.

Toward placed third in the men's 5000 in 15:34.68, while junior Sam Jacobs came in fourth in 15:38.62. Senior Chad Ware, who placed second in the men's 10,000 one day earlier, came in sixth in 15:52.47.

Gardner also picked up a third place finish in the women's 5000 in 17:49.19, while Stoate finished fifth in the women's 800 in 2:16.72. Gauson had a third place finish in the men's 800 in 1:54.39, and Hawitt was sixth in the women's 5000 in 18:38.

Coach Joe Franklin's club picked up additional points in the both the men's and women's 400 meter hurdles. Junior Kristi Hertzler placed third in the women's 400 hurdles in 1:05.36, while sophomore Tyler Kos finished fourth in the men's 400 hurdles in 57.43. Kos also placed fifth in the men's 110 hurdles in 16.33.

In the field events, the Bulldogs earned points in both the men's and women's high jump, as well as the women's triple jump. Sophomore Jennifer Macke placed third in the women's high jump with a leap of 5-01.75, while freshman Aaron Cummins finished fourth in the men's high jump, crossing the bar at 6-03.5. Junior Johanna Marvin came in sixth in the women's triple jump with a leap of 30-07.5.

Butler also picked up points from freshman Andy Barbeau in the men's 800 (1:56.34).