Butler Cross-Country geared up for new and different fall season
"I am most looking forward to actually coaching again," said head coach Dustin Mettler when asked about the upcoming season. "COVID has impacted us in so many ways I am ready to get back with my team and coach."
The Grizzlies 2020 Cross-Country season is set to kick off at home on September 11 in the Ollie Isom Invitational. Although there are a number of changes the team has had to make and adapt to, the end goal is the same and that is to win a Region VI Championship.
The official Cross-Country season started early August with the Grizzlies slowly coming back to campus and getting their legs back under them.
"These kids have been at home and away from us since March," commented Mettler. "I was surprised with how many of them showed back up, in shape and ready to get to work."
With COVID and the ever-changing landscape coming with it, the Grizzlies have had to adapt on the fly.
"You have to think differently about how you conduct yourself, your practices and team interactions," said Mettler. "We do our daily screenings, temperature checks, wear our masks, stay outside as much as possible and social distance. We want to compete this fall and making small sacrifices like these are easy in the grand scheme of things."
The Butler women are coming off a Region VI and KJCCC runner-up finish a season ago. Although the Grizzlies lost All-American Michelle Sanchez and Shanique Masters, they return two very talented runners in Zadie St. Louis and Stephany Lechuga. St. Louis had a 9th place finish last year at the Region Championships while Lechuga finished 20th overall.
"I will really look to Zadie and Stephany this season," commented Mettler. "They are the only two returners that have experience at the collegiate level in Cross-Country." 
Ann Dangha and Sylvia Korir are sophomores who competed in track and field their freshman year but will run their first season of Cross-Country this fall. The Grizzlies signed two Kansas freshmen in Leyni Gomez (Wichita, KS) and Emily Hankins (Mulvane, KS) to round out the roster.
On the men's side, the Grizzlies return four from last year's roster in Tarik Xavier, Juan Tovar, Luis Manqueros and Maquire Sole. Obadia Tanui ran Indoor and Outdoor track last season but will compete in his first Cross-Country season this fall. They added a pair of freshmen from Oklahoma with Issa Amfa (Oklahoma City, OK) and Daniel Birchell (Bethany, OK) joining the squad.
The men's team had a 6th place Region finish a season ago and will look to improve off that mark this season. Tarik Xavier finished 32nd in the meet while Luis Manqueros and Juan Tovar finished 41st and 48th overall.
"We will really look to Tarik and Obadia to be the leaders on the team this season and set the pace in practices as well as at the meets," mentioned Mettler.
Butler will open the year at home on September 11th in the Ollie Isom Invitational. Butler is also the host of the 2020 Region VI and KJCCC Championships on October 28.
The schedule is still in flux and changing with the cancelation of meets at the NCAA level. CLICK HERE to see the most up-to-date schedule.
