ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. - The Butler outdoor track and field team had a pair of first-place finishes to highlight the Region VI Outdoor Championships, which were held this past weekend.

Alfred Larry was the men's region champion in the 400-meter dash with a time of 47.90 seconds, edging out Highland's Tyus Jacob by 0.2 seconds. On the women's side, Ashanna Hodge won the 400-meter hurdles, besting the field by 1.34 seconds. Hodge posted her fastest time of the season with a 1:03.19.

The men's 4x400-meter relay team of Steven Calloway, Shaquille Alleyne, Leroy Moore and Larry placed fourth with a 3:18.08 time. Calloway also placed eighth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.96 seconds.

Both the women's 4x400 and 4x800-meter relay teams took third. In the 4x400, the team of Jonelle Reinert, Sueshi-Ann Halliman, Nhaieemah Horne and Hodge finished with a time of 4:03.88. Madison Wedekind, Reinert, Janell Kidd and Horne compeleted the 4x800 relay in 10:06.51.

Indivdually for the women, Hayley Ribordy took fifth in the 10,000-meter run (43:55.17 - personal best) and sixth in the 5,000-meter run (21:43.07). Ribordy was the Jayhawk West runner-up in both events. Tricia Trupe placed fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (13:55.64), while Reinert finished sixth in the 400-meter dash (59.22 seconds). 

As a team, the Butler women finished third in the Jayhawk West and eighth overall with 36 points. The men finished fifth in the West and 11th overall with 16 points.

Next up for the Grizzlies will be the NJCAA National Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which will be held in Mesa, Ariz. The three-day event begins on Wednesday, May 15.