Adam Fernz
Student Sports Media
Sophomore Michelle Sanchez and freshman Juan Tovar are the two standout runners for the Butler cross country team who both come from Junction City. They have helped lead the Grizzlies to national rankings as the women are ranked 12th in the nation and the men at 19th.
The Grizzlies men finished as the top junior college squad at the J.K. Gold Classic on Saturday, Sept. 7 in Augusta, with Tovar finishing as the top Butler finisher at 35th overall (20:40.4). in that same meet, the Butler women finished second among community college teams. Sanchez was Butler’s first finisher (27th), turning in a 15:50.6 time over the 4 course.
Tovar ran the 1,500m and the 800m in high school while Sanchez ran the 10K and 5K. Sanchez went to Southwestern College before coming to Butler as a sophomore. She then joined Coach Dustin Mettler’s Butler squad.
“She helped us get to Juan and Stephany (Lechuga, a Butler freshman teammate who is also from Junction City and ran for the Blue Jays),” Mettler said
The two runners try to build on their practice habits from high school.
“We try to hold each other accountable,” Sanchez said.
Mettler said they both have bright futures in cross country and track and field and did a great job of coming in and being leaders.
“They are setting a tone for those that are here,” Tovar said.
They don’t want anyone to give up. They did this in high school to encourage their teammates to keep running. Sanchez and Tovar both love and enjoy the sport.
Tovar has had a offer from Washburn. He chose Butler because the school felt like home, yet another of Tovar’s friends from high school is also here.
“We feel like brothers,” Tovar said.
Sanchez started running when she was in 5th grade. Also, when she was in 7th grade, she was put in the high schoolers’ practice and began to top a few of them.
Sanchez and Tovar both plan to run after Butler. Tovar wants to run in the NCAA competition in the future while Sanchez plans on running for two more years after butler.
“They both have a high ceiling,” Mettler said. “they can go to whatever school they want to from here.”
