The Butler women's track and field team had three first-place finishes and five runner-up placings during Saturday's Ev Kohls Grizzly Classic at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex.
Sophomore Valeriya Kostiuk won the high jump event, clearing 1.69 meters (5' 6 1/2") on her third attempt, while freshman Irine Jepkemboi took top honors in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 48:52.46.
Butler 4x100-meter relay team of Javonda Peagler, Alexxis Milner, Tashoy Blake and Kylia Smith set a meet record with a first-place time of 47.66 seconds.
Taking runner-up honors was sophomore Janie Salinas (3,000-meter steeplechase, 13:29.51), freshman Jayne Roberts (pole vault, 3.20 meters), freshman Julianna Horner (shot put, 12.34 meters) and freshman Jessica Finney (5,000-meter run, 22:49.58).
The Grizzlies' 4x400-meter relay team of Peagler, Davia Smith, Helen Thames and Courtney Willis also finished second with a time of 4:02.68.
In addition to Roberts' second-place finish in the pole vault, Butler had three other placers - Anna Robbins (2.90m, 4th), Madison McLaughlin (2.90m, 5th), Chalese Honan (2.75m, 8th).
Butler also finished 3-4-5 in the hammer throw, with Horner taking third place with a top throw of 40.49 meters. Peyton Brower (38.14m) and Faith Odunze (37.27m) took fourth and fifth, respectively.
In the 400-meter dash, the Grizzlies had three placers in the top six - Davia Smith (59.72, 3rd), Helen Thames (1:00.54, 5th), Courtney Willis (1:00.92, 6th).
Other Grizzly places at the Kohls Grizzly Classic were:
- 200-meter dash: Tashoy Blake (25.18, 5th)
- 800-meter run: Jade Searles (2:23.56, 5th), Roshae Burrell (2:25.19, 8th)
- 3,000m steeplechase: Darian Trost (14:02.67, 4th)
- 5,000-meter run: Alex Fulton (23:36.93, 3rd)
- 400-meter hurdles: Javonda Peagler (1:05.45, 3rd)
- Discus: Peyton Brower (43.31m, 5th)
- High jump: Jalicia Neil (1.59m, 3rd)
- Shot put: Dejah Erskine (11.36m, 7th)
Next up for the Grizzlies will be the K.T. Woodman Classic at Wichita State University. A distance carnival along with the javelin event begins Friday at 6:00 p.m. at Cessna Stadium. On Saturday, running events open with the 10,000-meter run at 10:30 a.m., while field events begin at 11:00 a.m.
