Grizzlies Finish Season With Indoor Nationals

By Kalon Fullerton

The Butler Grizzlies ended the 2023 Indoor Track Season with a trip to Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas for the 2023 NJCAA Nationals this weekend, competing on Friday and Saturday. 

It was a successful Friday for Shawn Brown and Nazzio John, competing in the 60 meter prelims. Brown won the prelims, finishing with a time of 6.67, while John finished just behind him, coming in second with a time of 6.70. John and Brown advanced to the finals, with John finishing third in the finals with a time of 6.66, while Brown came in sixth with a time of 6.74. 

Brown was also successful in the 200 meter prelims, finishing second and matching the facility record with a time of 20.88. In the 200 Meter finals, Brown came in at fifth, with a time of 21.11. In the 800 meter prelims, it was Wail Bourahli who had the best time, winning the prelims and qualifying for the finals with a time of 1:53.67. Bourahli came close in the finals, coming in at fourth with a time of 1:52.10. 

On the women's side, it was Star Mpama who came in first in the 600 meter prelims, and finished seventh in the finals, finishing with a time of 1:36.49. Khloi Bird finished seventh in the 3000 meters, with a time of 10:42.65, and also finished 14th in the mile race, with a time of 5:28.13. 

The Grizzlies had a successful relay day, as the mens 4x800 team finished fourth, with a time of 7:43.41. Butler's Distance Medley Relay teams both finished in seventh on Friday, as the women's team finished at 13:03.41 while the men's team came in at 10:02.35.