WICHITA — The Butler women's indoor track and field team dominated the field with nine first-place finishes Friday at the 2017 Herm Wilson Invitational, which was held at Wichita State University.
The Butler women outscored their second-place Cowley by 37 points, winning 122-85. They were trailed by Dodge City (79) and Garden City (30).
Sophomores Courtney Willis (600-meter run), Valeriya Kostiuk (high jump, 5'8"), Angel Malone (long jump, 17'11") each won their respective events. Butler had six freshman also take first place, including sprinters Javonda Peagler (60-meter dash, 7.79 seconds) and Tashoy Blake (200-meter dsah, 26.73).
Davia Smith (600-meter run, 59.14), Janelle Carty (60-meter hurdles, 9.19), Jayne Roberts (pole vault, 10'6") and Dejah Erskine (shot put, 40'-3.25") also recorded top finishes for Butler.
"I feel like our women are starting to get into shape after the winter break which is starting to show in their performances. We've had some great weather which has allowed us to have some great training sessions," Butler track and field coach Ryan Turner said.
Butler had six of the top ten place in the 60-meter dash event, with Peagler and Kylia Smith taking the top two honors. Tamar Perkins, Davia Smith and Tashoy Blake placed 5-6-7, while Janelle Carty finished 10th.
In the 200-meter event, Butler had four of the top five spots. Blake, Malone and Perkins were the top three finishers, while Carty placed fifth.
Sophomores Madison Bissell and Kalynn Simpson followed closely behind Willis in the 600-meter event, placing fifth and sixth. Freshman Jade Searles placed third in the 400-meter dash, while freshman Roshea Burrell, Conangela Senior and Jeanna Baker had top 10 finishes.
Butler also had six of the top 10 finishes in the 1,000-meter run, with Burrell as the top Grizzly in third place. Baker, Senior and Irine Jepkemboi finished 4-5-6, with Jessica Finney and Tesla Madsen taking ninth and 10th, respectively. Jepkemboi also placed sixth in the mile, while the Grizzlies' 4x800-meter relay team placed second.
Along with Kostiuk winning the high jump, fellow Grizzly freshman Jalicia Neil placed third. Butler also scored additional points in the pole vault with sophomore Madison McLaughlin placing fourth and freshman Anna Robbins placing fifth.
"Valeriya continues to show that she's a competitor and one of the top high jumpers in juco," coach Turner said.
Butler freshman Julianna Horner placed fourth in the shot put, with freshmen Faith Odunze and sophomore Shelby Coburn finishing sixth and seventh. Odunze, freshmen Peyton Brower and Horner also placed in the weight throw, taking third, fourth and fifth respectively.
Next up for the Grizzlies will be the Gorilla Challenge at Pittsburg State University on Feb. 10-11. The two-day event begins on Friday with multi events.
