Butler's Ryan wins 100, 200m events at Kohls Classic

The Butler women won four events and had three runner-up finishes at the rain-shortened Everett Kohls Classic on Wednesday.

With a wet track and temperatures in the low 40s, only 11 events were completed at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex.

Grizzly freshman sprinter Reina Ryan won both the 100 and 200-meter dash, while sophomores Jade Searles (1500-meter run) and Jalicia Neil (high jump) both won their respective events.

Butler took the top three spots in the 100-meter dash with Ryan (12.02), sophomore Kylia Smith (12.15) and sophomore Davia Smith (12.30). In the 200, Ryan (25.28) and freshman Rebekah Hamilton (25.51) finished 1-2.

Searles took top honors in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 5:02.74, beating Dodge City's Tayler Hayes (5:06.55).

Neil cleared 1.63 meters (5' 4-¼") on her second attempt to win the high jump, which was her third first-place win during the outdoor season.

Freshman Valentine Jemutai and sophomore Ebigael Rono placed second and third in the 5000-meter run. Jemutai ran a season-best 22:20.07 – besting her indoor time by over 34 seconds – while Rono had a time of 22:48.47.

Next up for Butler will be the Region VI Outdoor Championships in Hutchinson, which runs from May 3-5. The Grizzlies will then host the NJCAA National Outdoor meet on May 17-19.