Butler Men Tie For Third; Women 13th At Notre Dame Invitational

Blue Division Results
Updated Men's Results
Junior Varsity Results

All-American Andy Baker placed third in the individual competition and Butler’s men finished fifth in the team race at the 54th running of the Notre Dame Invitational cross country meet on Friday (Oct. 2).  Butler’s women also turned in a strong performance and placed 13th in the women’s competiton.

Baker led the Bulldogs’ bid for the team title in the elite Blue Division race on the Notre Dame Golf Course.  He covered the 8K distance in 23:45 and finished in a virtual tie with runner-up Brandon Bethke of Arizona State, one second behind individual champ Jacob Kirwa of New Mexico.

The Bulldogs also picked up a “Top 25” individual finish from senior Rob Mullett, who finished 23rd in 24:18.  Junior Madison Roeder came in 36th in 24:28, senior Kris Gauson placed 43rd in 24:35 and senior Tom Boardman finished 46th in 24:41.  The Bulldogs’ sixth and final runner was senior Steven Lisgo, who placed 107th in 25:29.

Butler’s bid for the title suffered a setback when senior Joe Macdonald was injured by a fall during the race.  The talented Butler runner was forced to drop out of the competition.

Washington, ranked 22nd, won the men’s Blue Division title by six points over No. 15-ranked Providence.  The Bulldogs tied with New Mexico, coached by former Butler coach Joe Franklin, just ahead of Arizona State, No. 26 Florida State and No. 11 Tulsa.

Freshman Katie Clark led Butler in the 5K women’s race with a 27th place finish in 17:19.  Freshman Lauren McKillip finished 58th in 17:38, followed by freshman Kirsti Legg in 63rd place in 17:40.  Junior Sara Bird came in 110th in 18:24 and junior Rosie Edwards placed 125th in 18:39.  Freshman Shelbi Burnett placed 142nd in 19:00 and junior Whitney Turner finished 144th in 19:03 to round out Butler’s top seven.

Top-ranked Washington claimed the women’s title, giving the Huskies a sweep of the men’s and women’s races.  The Bulldogs finished just behind North Carolina and just ahead of Southern Utah, Georgia, No. 27 Rice and UCLA.

Running in the men’s Junior Varsity Race, Butler junior Taylor Eaton finished 11th in 26:22.  Freshmen Kaitlyn Love and Karleen Ritchie placed 11th and 12th, respectively in the women’s Junior Varsity Race.  Love covered the course in 18:59, while Ritchie crossed the line in 19:01.  Sophomore Lauren Haberkorn placed 17th in 19:11.