Butler Starred With Three 3K Victories

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Butler Starred With Three 3K Victories

“When things are tough, I always think back to when I couldn’t run at all.” ~ That’s what Kathy Butler told Cathy Breitenbucher for Track & Field News after winning the individual title at the 1995 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.

By the time Kathy Butler strode to a third-straight 3000-meter victory in the 1997 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, very few remembered the days when she arrived at Wisconsin.

In the fall of 1994 – when Butler’s club coach in Canada said she couldn’t break 5:00 for 1500 meters – Butler joined USTFCCCA Hall of Fame coach Peter Tegen’s respected program at Wisconsin after back-to-back attacks of asthma (1993) and Graves’ disease (1994), the latter of which wiped out her entire track season.

Butler, as a Badger, was an immediate success: She was fifth at the 1994 NCAA Cross Country Championships and by the spring of 1995, Butler had her first NCAA title, taking the outdoor 3K. The following year saw her win a triple crown of sorts: an individual national title in cross country, anchoring the winning indoor DMR team at the NCAA meet and then a second outdoor 3K crown.

Her final go at the outdoor 3K was actually a collegiate record attempt, which seemed possible after an early-May 8:54.07 made her the second-fastest outdoor collegian ever behind the 8:47.35 of Villanova’s Vicki Huber in 1988. After dropping the field in the first kilometer, Butler eased off the pedal and settled for a win in 9:01.23, the fastest of her three NCAA titles.

“I was trying to go 70-second [8:45] pace, but it was a little harder than I thought,” Butler said afterward.

posted: October 27, 2020
1921-2021
The NCAA's First Championships

The NCAA and collegiate track & field will mark a momentous milestone in the spring of 2021 -- the 100th anniversary of the NCAA Championships and with that, the NCAA Track & Field Championships. In June 1921, the University of Chicago hosted the first track & field championships in NCAA history.

This point can’t be emphasized enough: Not only was the event the first for NCAA track & field, but the first championships for any sport under the sponsorship of the NCAA.

To celebrate, over each of the next 365 days, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) will celebrate moments, student-athletes, and coaches that have made a century’s worth of championships special. From humble beginnings to important historical milestones to the modern-day, collegiate track & field has evolved with the American society.

The 2021 edition of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships begin with preliminary round action on May 27-29 in Jacksonville, Fla., and College Station, Texas. The championships final site and culmination of the celebration is slated for June 9-12, 2021 at the newly rebuilt Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Memorable Moments
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!