Story by Kalon Fullerton

The Butler Grizzlies kicked off the 2023 Indoor Track Season with a trip to Wichita for the Friends University First Chance Qualifier on Saturday.

It was a big day for the Grizzlies on the track, as 11 different races were won by Butler runners. Vionce Olivares had a huge day, winning the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 9.20, as well as finishing fourth in the 60 meter race. The Grizzlies accounted for three of the top four runners in the 60 meters, as the race was won by Akeera Esdelle with a time of 7.91 while Deanna Miller was close behind in second place with a time of 7.97. Brown finished second in the 60 meter race, just behind teammate Nazzio John who finished with a time of 6.67. 

In the 400 meters, it was Star Mpama collecting the win with a time of 58.11, just ahead of teammate Trishanie Warner who finished just one second behind with a time of 59.71. Mpama also won the 600 meters, with a time of 1:40.06. The Grizzlies swept the 600 meter race with Bennett Feldenkirchen claiming the victory on the men's side, finishing at 1:22.96. Wail Bourahli earned the victory in the men's 1000 meters, finishing with a time of 2:28.21.

On the field side, Kayla Ortman finished seventh in the women's Pole Vault, with a mark of 2.75 meters, and Rickey Golden earned a 10th place finish while teammate Brett Gibbs earned 14th in the men's Shot Put. Golden finished with a mark of 11.38 meters, while Gibbs earned a mark of 10.72.

Next up for the Grizzlies will be a trip to the Lone Star State for the Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational in Houston, Texas next Saturday.