INDIANAPOLIS -- Butler runner Shelbi Burnett (Greenwood, Ind.) has been named the Horizon League Runner of the Year for the women and Callum Hawkins (Glasgow, Scotland) has been named Runner of the Year for the men. 

Burnett and Hawkins both won the individual titles at the Horizon League Cross Country Championships in October with times of 18:40.7 and 25:43.0, respectively. 

“Shelbi and Callum’s success this cross country season was a direct reflection of their commitment to training this past five months,” said Butler head coach Matt Roe. “They started with doing everything that was asked of them this summer.  Shelbi was training over a mile above sea level in Mammoth, California while Callum was stamping out 90 mile weeks in the rolling hills outside of Glasgow. They both came to campus fit, and both improved every week of the season.”

After winning the Horizon League Championship, Burnett and Hawkins went on to the Great Lakes Regional Meet to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Burnett came in 53rd overall in the 6K with a time of 21:51.6, to help the Bulldogs to a 10th place team finish.

“Shelbi is continuing to improve and mature as an athlete,” Roe said. “She has the work ethic and the lifestyle commitment to run at an elite Division I level. This fall she began to see that  she has the physical ability to compete at a high level as well.  Confidence is key and Shelbi is moving forward nicely in that area.”

Hawkins won the men’s 10K race in 30:01.5. The sophomore automatically advanced to the NCAA Championship and became Butler’s first regional champ since 1998, when Julius Mwangi won the men’s title. 

“Callum runs with a lot of moxy for a 19 year old,” Roe said. “I like the way he attacks a race and his competition. His toughness earned him a conference and regional title, as well All American honors. As he continues to refine his habits and his approach, he is going to be increasingly dangerous on the national scene.”

Up next for the Bulldogs will be the indoor track and field season, which starts Dec. 2 at the Blue and Gold meet at Notre Dame.