Seven Butler Athletes Compete At Mideast Regional

May 25, 2006

Seven Butler track and field athletes, including school record holder Scott Overall, will compete for a berth in the 2006 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championship when action begins at the Mideast Regional in Knoxville, Tenn., on Friday (May 26). The regional meet, hosted by the University of Tennessee, will begin at 11 a.m. (EDT) at Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium.

Overall, who was named Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year this spring, will compete in the men's 5,000 meter run, slated for 9:40 p.m. The Butler distance ace set the school 5,000 meter record with a 13:38 clocking earlier this season. That mark placed him among the fastest 5,000 runners in the nation. He also set a league record while winning the 5,000 meter run at the 2006 Horizon League Championship.

Also competing for Butler's men will be junior Alex Hains, who will be entered in the 1500 meter run. The preliminaries for that race are scheduled for 5 p.m.

Butler head coach Joe Franklin will have five members of his women's squad competing at the Mideast Regional. Senior Ava Hutchinson is entered in the women's 1500 meter at 4:35 p.m., while sophomore Kate Buchan will race in the 800 meter run at 6:10 p.m. Both won league titles at the Horizon League Championship.

Sophomores Jenny Pereira, who won a league title this spring, and Genni Gardner are entered in the women's 5,000 meter run, which is scheduled for 9:20 p.m. Butler's final competitor will be senior Katie Stucky, who will run in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at 7:45 p.m., on Saturday, May 27.

The 2006 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship will be held in Sacramento, Calif., June 7-10.