Mara Olson Named League Runner of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Butler freshman Mara Olson, with one collegiate meet under her belt, has been named Horizon League Female Runner of the Week, for the week beginning August 29.  Edwin Gay of Detroit was named the league’s Male Runner of the Week.

Olson turned in a stellar performance in her first collegiate meet, capturing the individual title at the six-team Illini Challenge.  Running in 90-plus degree temperatures, the first-year distance runner paced the field with a time of 14:45 for the 4K race.  She finished nine seconds ahead of teammate Becky Howarth in the runner-up position.

Olson, from St. Louis Park High School in suburban Minneapolis, helped lead Butler to a sweep of the top four individual spots in the race and the team title of the Illini Challenge.

Butler’s runners will return to competition on Sept. 16 at the Indiana Intercollegiate Meet in Bloomington, Ind.