By: Nick McGill ~Staff Writer~

After completing the indoor season with many impressive personal records, the Xavier track and field teams took to the track in Indianapolis this weekend to open the outdoor season at the Butler Invitational. During the indoor season, several athletes were granted All-Big East honors and the student athletes are looking to build on of this success in the outdoor season.

At the Davey Athletic Complex at Butler University, the Musketeers faced off against Eastern Kentucky, Loyola (Illinois), Morehead State and Big East rival Butler, among others. Highlighting the meet for the Musketeers was senior Craig Krcal, junior John Kolibab, sophomore Mercedes Oliver and the men’s 4×100 meter relay team. All four won their events this weekend.

Krcal captured a victory in javelin with a distance of 48.50 meters, while Oliver won the shot put by achieving a new personal record of 13.08 meters. The men’s 4×100 meter relay team consisting of freshman Matthew Bryant, freshman Russell Platt, Kolibab and Oliver won the event by finishing with a time of 42.91.

In the high jump, Kolibab not only won the event but also set a personal record and recorded a new mark for the school record of 2.01 meters. Oliver also posted a new personal best winning the shot put with a distance of 13.08 meters.

The women’s team had several athletes just missing the top of the podium, finishing second in their events. Senior Abby Fischer placed second in the 3000 meter race finishing with a time of 9:58.83, a personal best. The women’s 800-meter run had four Musketeers finish in the top five taking second through fifth in the event.

After an optimistic start to the outdoor season, the Xavier track and field will head back to Cincinnati next weekend for a two-day meet at the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational at University of Cincinnati. The team will compete against high-level competition including UC and Dayton.