Matthew Will
Sports Editor
The success story known as Butler Track & Field continued their consistently good results on Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Wichita State “Shocker Prelude.”
It did not take long for some Grizzlies to qualify for indoor nationals, which take place on Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2 in Pittsburg.
First, in the triple jump, freshman Keyara Robinson qualified for nationals with a second place finish of 11.27m. One week later, her best would increase to 11.92m.
Next, sophomore Octavia Cato finished first in both prelims and finals of the 60m event. Her 7.56 time in the prelims qualified her for nationals. The next week, Cato qualified in a second event, now the 200m with a time of 25.09.
Sophomore Alex Grays punched his ticket for nationals with a 6.83 in the 60m prelims.
“We could be real good,” Grays said when asked about the number of athletes qualifying for nationals.
On Saturday, Jan. 26, sophomore Tavarious Wright ran a 6.64, good for No. 1 on the NJCAA leaderboard in the 60m.
Sophomore Claudina Constatine had a time of 2:22.35 in the 800m, punching her ticket to nationals.
On the men’s side of the 800m, freshman Agerian Jackson qualified for nationals with a time 1:55.40.
On Tuesday, Jan. 29, Wright was recognized as one of eight U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Athletes of the Week.
Butler continued their 2019 indoor season on Friday, Feb. 1 in the Wichita State Invitational.