March 31, 2004
Butler senior Gary Blackman has been selected as the Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Male Athlete of the Year by a vote of league track coaches. Also honored by the league coaches was Tenia Fisher of UW-Milwaukee, who was named Female Athlete of the Year.
Blackman, who hails from West Midlands, England, won the 5,000 meter run for the second consecutive year at the 2004 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championship. He set a league record in the event with his winning time of 14:23.57, breaking the previous league mark of 14:27.04 set by Marc Burns of Loyola in 1990. It was also the fastest time turned in by any Horizon League runner during the entire spring indoor season.
The Butler senior was named Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Newcomer of the Year (Running Events) a year ago, after winning the 3,000 meter steeplechase in a league record 8:57.29. He also won the league 10,000 meter run at the 2003 outdoor championship, and he was a regional qualifier for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship. He's already qualified for the 2004 NCAA outdoor regionals in the 5,000 meter run, after posting the second-fastest time in Butler track history with 13:56.61 clocking at the Cardinal Invitational on March 27.
Blackman is a two-time All-Horizon League cross country performer. He placed third in the league distance championship in 2003, after finishing eighth in 2002.
Fisher, just a sophomore, was the 800 meter champion at the 2004 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championship. She also placed second in the 400 meter run and anchored the second place 4 X 400 meter relay team. During the indoor season, she set a UW-Milwaukee school record with a time of 2:12.04 in the 800. Fisher was named Horizon League Outdoor Track Newcomer of the Year in 2003.