Lindsey Butterworth led Simon Fraser University to its best-ever finish at the NCAA Division II indoor track and field championships in Birmingham, Alabama.
Buterworth went into the nation meet as the No. 1 seed in the women's 800 metres and did not disappoint, taking the lead with 300m to go and winning by more than a second over runner-up Taylor Stepanski of Saginaw Valley.
Butterworth's winning time of 2:08.44 assured the Clan of its first top-10 finish in women's indoor track since joining the NCAA in 2010.
"There were a lot of expectations on me that I hoped to fulfill. But as soon as I started warming up and was in my routine I felt really confident," said Butterworth in a Clan press release. "I didn't get a good start, but I passed a few people during the first lap and then I knew it was time to go."
A day earlier, Butterworth ran a personal-best mile anchor leg to help the SFU team of Jennifer Johnson, Chantel Desch and Paige Nock place second in the women's distance relay in a conference record time of 11:28.28.
Johnson, a grad student, also placed third in the women's 3,000m and was one of four runners to better a 30-year-old meet record in the event.
It was also Johnson's third All-American feat this season, following similar honours in the women's distance relay and at the national cross-country championships easrlier this year.
"Prior to this year, I was never able to achieve All-American status and now I'm a three-time All-American. It's a dream come true," said Johnson in the release.
Women's champion Emily Oren of Hillsdale bettered the 1985 record of 9:30.34 by more than 13 seconds. Johnson's time of 9:26.82 was a personal best and ranks second-best all-time in Great Northwest conference history.
On the men's side, Travis Vugteveen became the first Clan male athlete to earn All-American honours in track and field, placing sixth in the mile in a time of 4:12.49.
