Butler To Host Horizon League Indoor Track Championship

Feb. 25, 2004

The 2004 Horizon League men's and women's Indoor Track and Field Championships will be hosted by Butler University on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 28-29. The championship meet will be held at the DePauw University Track and Field/Tennis Center in Greencastle, Ind. Competition on Friday will begin at 6:30 p.m. (EST), while Saturday's action will start at 12 noon.

Six teams will compete in the men's championship, while seven teams are entered in the women's championship. Youngstown State won the men's indoor title in 2003 and UW-Milwaukee captured the women's crown. Butler finished fifth in both the men's and women's championships a year ago.

Both Butler teams, under head coach Joe Franklin, will look to challenge behind strong distance performers. The Bulldogs swept the Horizon League men's and women's cross country championships last fall. All-league cross country performers Olly Laws, Nick Goodliffe, Gary Blackman, Tom Frazer, John Frazer, Bart Phariss and Andrew Sherman will fuel the bid of Butler's men, while all-league runners Monika Schneider, Katie Stuckey and Mary Reeves will compete for Butler's women. Junior transfer Victoria Mitchell adds to Butler's strength in the distance events.

Blackman is the Horizon League defending 5,000 meter champ. He won the event last year with a time of 14:39.80, and he's already posted a time of 14:38.94 this season. Laws was the league cross country individual champ last fall.

Admission to the championship meet will be $5 for a single session or $9 for both sessions.