Butler men's and women's teams receive recognition in first USTFCCCA cross country poll

Sept. 13, 2006

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Indianapolis, Ind. -- With the return of many of their top runners from a year ago, defending men's and women's Horizon League champion Butler is receiving some well-deserved recognition.  According to the first U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division I poll, the Butler men's team is ranked 29th in the country, while the women's team finished just shy of the rankings, managing a few votes.  The Butler men have won eight Horizon League Cross Country Championships in a row, including a tie in 2001, while the women's team has won four League titles in a row. 

Head coach Joe Franklin is returning many talented athletes from last year's teams that finished 24th at the NCAA Championships on the women's side, and 25th for the men's squad.  Senior Andy Rayner completed the 2005 season for the Bulldogs as the Horizon League Championship individual champion and the Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Year.  Rayner was also the League's top men's runner at the NCAA Championships, finishing in 35th place.  The other top returners are graduate student Scott Overall and senior Andrew Toward, who both finished in the top 10 at the League Championship.  

Senior Jenni Pereira leads the women's team after a second-place individual finish at the 2005 League Championship.  Pereira is joined by fellow seniors Ava Hutchinson and Kara Henry, who also had top-10 League Championship finishes last season.

###

Note:  The complete U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll can be found in the PDF version of this release.