Raymond Hoare
Student Sports Media
The Butler Grizzlies Track and Field teams are starting to heat up during these last couple of months.
The track team headed to Wichita State University for the Preludes on Friday, Jan. 17. The Grizzlies had a successful day. Notable outcomes included freshman Robert Richardson in the triple jump as Richardson got 2nd place at 13.47meters 44’ 2 ½.
Another notable outcome was the women’s 60 meters as four Grizzly runners took over the leader boards. In first place was freshman Linesha Thompson with a time of 7.60. In the men’s 60 meters, sophomore Xavier Atkins took first place with a time of 6.74. In the women’s 400 meter, freshman Jyria Smith took first place with a time of 59.81 and freshman Kaleb McDonald had a time of 1:00.01. Lastly, the men’s 4 x 400m relay got second place with a time of 3:22.57. With the Preludes done in Wichita, the men’s team earned 96 points and the women’s team earned 61 points.
With a successful day in Wichita, traveled to Iowa, but they changed the schedule to compete in the 2020 Jayhawk Classic on Friday, Jan. 24.
The Bulter Grizzlies track and field team went on a heyday as they had six national qualifiers.
The six national qualifiers were freshman Zadie St. Louis in the 800m run with a time of 2:24.30 in the AM session, as well sophomore Shanique Masters ran the 800m run with a time of 2:21.55 in the PM session. Next was the women’s 4×400 relay as they had a time of 4:03.20. Sophomore Tard Smith Jr. qualified as he had a time of 8.31 in the 60m hurdles. Lastly, sophomores Jeremy McDowell and Arlon Williams qualified for nationals in the 200m dash as McDowell had a time of 21.89 and Williams had a time of 21.56.
The success for the track and field didn’t stop there as the men’s ranked 15th in the nation and as well the women’s track and field are 9th in the nation as they were announced on Thursday, Jan. 30.
The Grizzlies travelled to Pittsburg for the Wendy’s/ Pittsburg State Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 1.
There were unforeseen events that occurred during the invitational as a fight broke out between two school as the fight lasted for more than an hour as it delayed some of the events, but it didn’t distract the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies did very well in the invitational as Atkins was in first place in the 60m dash with a time of 6.70. Thompson got herself in second place in the 400m dash with a time of 56.60 as well getting fifth place in the 60m dash with a time of 56.60. Smith got third place in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.14. Freshman Judah Taylor gets fourth place in the 400m dash with a time of 47.91. The Grizzlies got 19 new national qualifiers’ during the event.
With a great start enter the month of February, for the first time in 2016, both men and women track, and field team are ranked in the top 10 as it was announced on Thursday, Feb. 6 both are ranked at No. 9.
The Grizzlies went back to work as they travelled to Nebraska for the 45th Frankie Sevgine Husker Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7-8.
Notable performances included McDowell as he finished third place in the 200m with a time of 21.41. Sophomore Agerian Jackson finished second place in the 600m with a time of 1:18.51.
Atkins earn second place in the 60m with a time of 6.72.
With the main event on the 4×400 the women’s track and field team got 10th place with a time of 3:53.95. Lastly, the men’s 4×400 team got fifth place with a time of 3:15.96.
It was another good day for the Grizzlies as it was announced the women have seven categories ranking in the top 10 and as well the men have six categories.
The Grizzlies track and field will be back on the road to Pittsburg for the Region VI Indoor Championships on Friday, Feb. 21 and as well the Grizzlies will be at home in El Dorado for the Butch Reynolds Invitational on Friday, March 13.
