Butler Sweeps Cross Country Athlete of the Year Awards

Dec. 5, 2006

Butler seniors Scott Overall and Ava Hutchinson have been named the 2006 Horizon League Cross Country Athletes of the Year, the league office announced Tuesday, Dec. 5. The league's nine cross country coaches voted for the top distance award following the 2006 season.

Overall, named Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Year, won the Horizon League individual men's title at the 2006 league meet held at Butler and won by the Bulldogs. He also posted a ninth-place individual finish at the Brooks Pre-National Meet, a runner-up finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional and a 35th place finish at the NCAA Division I Championship, where he helped lead Butler to a 25th place team finish.

The gifted runner from England was named the 2006 Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year, and he was the lone Horizon League representative at the 2006 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championship, where he placed 11th in the 5,000 meter run. He also was named 2006 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year, after setting a league record in the 1,000 meter run at the Horizon League Championship. Overall placed 12th in the 3,000 meter run at the 2006 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championship.

Hutchinson, tabbed Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year, placed first at the 2006 Horizon League Championship, while leading Butler to the team title. She further finished 32nd at the Brooks Pre-National Meet and led Butler at the Great Lakes Regional Meet with an 11th place finish.

The cross country Athlete of the Year awards were first selected in 2002, and Butler has swept the league honors for the past four seasons.