Butler's Gauson Earns Male Indoor Athlete of the Year; Legg, Lloyd Tabbed Co-Female Athletes of the Year

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler senior Kris Gauson (Edinburgh, Scotland) has been named the Horizon League Men’s Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year, while Butler sophomore Kirsty Legg (Middlesborough, England) and Wright State junior Cassandra Lloyd (Springfield, Ohio) were tabbed the Women’s Indoor Track and Field Co-Athletes of the Year.  Results were determined by a vote of the League’s head coaches.

In the indoor season, Gauson broke the four-minute mile barrier, running a 3:59.74 at the Alex Wilson Invite on March 5.  The top-ranked Horizon League men’s track athlete, coming in at No. 21 in the mile, Gauson took titles in both the 800 meters and mile at the Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships.

The 2009 Horizon League Men’s Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year, Gauson is just the second men’s athlete to win the honor more than once, joining Butler’s Scott Overall.  The senior earned Indoor Track Athlete of the Week honors twice in 2010-11.

Legg, the highest-ranked female runner in the Horizon League at No. 21 in the mile, took three titles at the League Indoor Track and Field Championships, crossing the tape first in the 800 meters, mile and anchoring Butler’s distance medley relay.  The native of England set a League Championships record in the 800 prelims, running in 2:10.72.

The sophomore will have an opportunity in 2012 to become the first female in League history to win three straight titles in both the 800 and mile over the same stretch.

With her second straight share of the Athlete of the Year award, Lloyd becomes the third female to take home at least two of the honors in her career.  In 2011, the junior captured her third consecutive title in the 60-meter high hurdles, breaking the tape in 8.42 seconds.  In 2012, Lloyd will have the opportunity to become the second League female athlete to win four straight hurdles titles.

By the end of the indoor season, Lloyd was ranked No. 23 in the 60m hurdles and held the Wright State record in the event.  The Springfield, Ohio-native shattered the school record in the 60-meter dash on three occasions in 2010-11, lowering the mark to 7.66 seconds.