Butler Ranks 29th In Men's Cross Country Poll

Sept. 13, 2006

The Butler men's cross country team is ranked 29th in the first 2006 Division I poll released by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Bulldogs narrowly missed the Top 30 in the women's cross country poll, coming in 32nd.

Butler returns the top four runners from last year's men's squad, which placed 25th at the 2005 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship. Leading that group are senior Andy Rayner, who captured the individual title at the 2005 Horizon League Cross Country Championship and was named Horizon League Cross Country Athlete of the Year, and senior Scott Overall, who was named Horizon League Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Also back from last year's NCAA meet are seniors Alex Hains and Andrew Toward.

The Butler women feature five of the top seven runners from last year's squad, which placed 24th at the NCAA Championship. Among the returnees are first team all-league runners Jenni Pereira and Ava Hutchinson. Pereira placed second at last year's Horizon League Championship, while Hutchinson came in third. Seniors Kara Henry and Maria Beitel and junior Genni Gardner all earned second team all-league recognition last year.

Wisconsin was the top pick in the men's cross country poll, while Stanford was tabbed first in the women's poll. Notre Dame was ranked 12th among the men's teams, while Indiana was ranked 29th in the women's poll.