Baker and Clark named Horizon League Cross Country Athletes of the Year

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Butler University senior Andy Baker and freshman Katie Clark have been named 2009 Horizon League Cross Country Athletes of the Year in a vote of the League's head coaches.

Baker, a two-time cross country All-American from Minehead, U.K., helps Butler win the Men's Athlete of the Year honor for the eighth straight time. The Bulldog men have won every award since it was first handed out in 2002.

Baker finished 78th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships (30:42.7) in Terre Haute, Ind.

He became an NCAA individual qualifier for the third consecutive year after finishing eighth at the Great Lakes Regional Meet (31:19.5).

Baker also finished first at the Horizon League Cross Country Championships for the third consecutive year (25:15.6) and was named a first-team All-Horizon League athlete. His performance helped the Bulldogs win their 12th consecutive conference title.

Clark, a Hull, U.K. native, helps Butler win the Women's Athlete of the Year honor for the fifth time in eight years.

Clark placed second at the Horizon League Cross Country Championships (18:49.0), finishing just 0.7 seconds behind freshman teammate Lauren McKillop.

Clark was the Bulldogs' top runner in five of six meets last fall. She placed first at the Purdue Great American Legends Meet and fifth at the Indiana Intercollegiate Meet.