Simon Fraser University middle distance runner Lindsey Butterworth made the best of a late entry into the women’s 800-metre final and finished seventh overall at the World Student Games in South Korea on Friday.
Butterworth ran the final race in a time of 2:03.96 to finish in seventh place. Kate Petty of New Zealand won the race in a personal-best time of 1:59.06.
Butterworth was moved into the final Friday after Docus Ajok of Ndejje University in Uganda was disqualified after the semifinals. Ajok, who ran in Butterworth's semifinal heat, had finished ahead of Butterworth before being disqualified.
Butterworth, the NCAA Division II 800m champion, finished sixth in her semifinal heat on Thursday in a time of 2:03.38, more than a full second behind Ciara Everard of Ireland, the fifth place finisher in 2:02.10. Everard was the eighth and final athlete to qualify for the final until Ajok was disqualified. The top-three runners in both heats and the next two fastest times advanced to the finals. After Ajok was disqualified Butterworth had the next fastest time earning her a spot in the final.
Canada's Rachel Aubry placed fifth overall in 2:02.17.
Butterworth advanced to the semis after finishing third in her heat in a time of 2:05.05.
The North Vancouver runner just completed her senior season at SFU, after claiming the NCAA 800m title on May 23 at Allendale, Michigan in a season-best time of 2:02.88. She was later named 2014-15 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Female Athlete of the Year.
Butterworth was one of 23 women and 18 men chosen to represent Canada in track and field at the 2015 Summer Universiade.
