Andy Baker, Katie Clark Named Horizon League Cross Country Athletes of the Year

Butler distance standouts Andy Baker and Katie Clark were selected Horizon League Cross Country Athletes of the Year by a vote of league cross country coaches.  It marked the third straight year that Baker has captured the league’s top individual honor, while Clark earned the award in her first season with the Bulldogs.

Baker, a graduate student from Minehead, U.K., captured the Horizon League individual championship for the third straight year this season, while helping Butler’s to their 12th consecutive team championship.  He became the first runner in league history to win the individual title in three consecutive years.

A two-time cross country All-American, Baker qualified for the NCAA National Championship for the third consecutive year with an eighth place finish at the Great Lakes Regional.  He went on to place 78th at the NCAA national meet in Terre Haute.

This was the eighth straight year that a Butler runner earned the Horizon League Cross Country Athlete of the Year award.  The Bulldogs have captured the league honor in every year that it has been awarded.

Clark, a freshman from Hull, U.K., was awarded second place at the Horizon League Cross Country Championship, after crossing the finish line in unison with teammate Lauren McKillop.  She earned first team All-League recognition at the conference championship.

The first-year runner was Butler’s top finisher in five of six meets this fall.  She place first at the Purdue Great American Legends Meet and fifth at the Indiana Intercollegiate Meet.  She also became the first Butler freshman to earn All-Great Lakes Regional honors at the women’s regional meet.

Butler athletes have captured the league Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year award in five of the eight year that it has been chosen.