Butler Invitational 2026 highlights, top moments, winners and photo gallery from major track and field meet
BUTLER TWP — It was a grueling day for Carter Ekas.
But it was also rewarding.
Despite increasingly strong rain later in the track and field meet and a packed schedule, Ekas came home with four medals on the Art Bernardi Stadium track at Saturday’s Butler Invitational.
The Butler senior captured two silvers in the 400-meter race (48.81 seconds) and 200 (22.46), and he led the 4x100 relay to gold in 42.35 and the 4x400 to another gold in 3:27.91.
“Yeah, it was pretty good,” Ekas said of his overall performance. “It was my first two losses of the season, though, so that was a little bit disappointing. But can’t complain about second place at a big meet like this ... it was bound to happen eventually.”
The 4x100 set the new meet record. The Tornado won the team title with 85 points, 32 ahead of second-place Grove City.
Butler’s runners, but especially its sprinters, could not be slowed down once again. The Tornado swept the relays with gold in the 4x800 (7:58.05) to start the day. Logan Ekas took silver with a 10.81 in the 100, Isaac Miller finished sixth in the 400 in 49.99 and Brendan Eicher captured fourth in the 3200 in 9:23.54.
Miller was also on the 4x100 and 4x400. His 49.99 in the 400, a PR, drew attention from teammates
“Last year, we were good,” he said when asked what is different between last year’s relays that were also quite good and this year’s that have dominated a month into the season. “We had one guy sub-11, a few guys 11-low to mid. This year, I think honestly all of us, at least three of us, can get sub-11.”
And all that without another top sprinter, Kevin Shriver, who was not available Saturday.
Here are other Butler County highlights from the day:
Wilson won via tiebreaker a tight boys pole vault competition with 14-2 against a field that included Butler’s Jason Wicks (PR of 15-0 at the Butler County Classic earlier this season).
It is not the kind of height that will wow anyone, but it’s consistent with the 13-6 he’s trying to hit each meet, the qualifying standard for the postseason.
Wilson, the Gremlins’ record holder with 14-6 and reigning District 9 Class 2A bronze medalist, will take it, though.
“I wish I got higher, but with the wind and with a big pole, I’m quite happy with it,” he said.
The wait at the podium was almost as entertaining as the competition. The medalists stood in a circle trying to time a group high-five. Most train at Vault Shack together, Wilson said, and they’re all friends. It made for a goofy scene.
“Pole vault’s the sport of friendly competition, everyone’s friends,” Wilson said.
The Raiders’ sophomore javelin thrower said he was motivated by teammate Reese Fatur’s recent PR of 181 feet going into the Butler Invite. Maybe they’ll need to feed off each other some more.
Mejia broke his own personal best with a 171-10 to win the boys javelin competition over Grove City’s Daniel Mariacher by barely 1 ½ feet.
“I knew I had to show up (after Fatur’s PR),” Mejia said. “And on the very last threw I pulled out 171(-10), got first.
“I think I was just more locked in, you know? Just did everything right.”
Fatur didn’t quite reach his now-lofty heights, but he did medal in seventh with a 160-6. Butler’s Tyson Pino was eighth with a 154-1.
Mejia said his goal this season is to qualify for the state championships.
It was going to be tough to beat a meet record from Quaker Valley’s Jordan Montagnese (8:56.16), but Trojans sophomore Steineman feels he can learn some things from his second-place finish in the boys 3200.
“That first lap was a little too fast for my liking,” he said after running a 9:19.66. “I should’ve taken it a little slower, got a little excited. I’ll learn a lot from it.”
The increasingly steady showers later in the meet, as well as the wind, played a factor, he said. Steineman wanted to break 9 minutes but feels he’s still set up well to do so before WPIALs and climb into the low 8:50s.
The reigning WPIAL and PIAA pole vault champion came away with three medals for one of the best individual performances overall at the meet.
She finished second in her signature event to Punxsutawney’s Elliana Kostok with a 11-8, but she claimed fourth in the long jump (18-2.25) and helped push the 4x100 girls relay to 50.72 and a seventh-place medal.
The twin juniors — nearly back to full strength with Anna’s hamstring injury on the mend, which allows her to compete in all her disciplines — dominated Saturday.
Anna won the 100-meter dash in 12.15 seconds, and Audra placed second in the 110 hurdles in 15.36. The two then teamed up in the 4x100, which won states a year ago, to win in 48.18, more than two seconds faster than second-place Butler.
GIRLS
Champion and local medalists
Team standings: 1. South Fayette 58, 2. North Catholic 44
4x800 relay: 1. South Fayette 9:27.02, 7. Butler 10:05.75
110 hurdles: 1. Delaney Schumaker (South Fayette) 14.50, 2. Audra Lazzara (North Catholic) 15.36
100: 1. Anna Lazzara (North Catholic) 12.15
1600: 1. Angela Zeng (South Fayette) 4:55.27
4x100 relay: 1. North Catholic 48.18, 5. Butler 50.41, 7. Freeport 50.72
400: 1. Rachel Stepp (Moon) 55.44
300 hurdles: 1. Delaney Schumaker (South Fayette) 42.96
800: 1. Megan Mehall (Southmoreland) 2:15.84
200: 1. Rachel Stepp (Moon) 25.19
3200: 1. Charlotte Barker (Shady Side Academy) 10:53.26
4x400 relay: 1. Mt. Lebanon 3:59.73, 6. North Catholic 4:15.97, 7. Freeport 4:18.22
1-mile: no results provided as of 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Long jump: 1. DaShae Cochran (Winchester Thurston) 19-1.50, 3. Anna Lazzara (North Catholic) 18-3.75, 4. Mackenzie Magness (Freeport) 18-2.25, 5. Callie Kandravy (North Catholic) 18-2, 6. Audra Lazzara (North Catholic) 17-11, 8. Kate Skeen (Seneca Valley) 17-10
Triple jump: 1. Milena Sciullo (Grove City) 38-10
High jump: 1. Jamie Kociela (Franklin Regional) 5-8, 3. Jordan Monteleone (Seneca Valley) 5-4, t-5. Gracyn Vardy (Butler) 5-2, 8. Kamryn Burtner (Knoch) 5-2
Shot put: 1. Alexis Geiwitz (Laurel) 39-10, 5. Michelle Jacobson (Butler) 35-1
Discus: 1. Audrey Maxwell (North Allegheny) 130-8, 4. Julianna Lockwood (Butler) 112-3
Javelin: 1. Jayla Antomachi (Shaler) 136-11, 2. Addie Weaver (Seneca Valley) 132-8, 5. Audrey Wolfe (Seneca Valley) 121-10, 8. Anastasia Manchester (Butler) 111-5
Pole vault: 1. Elliana Kostok (Punxsutawney) 12-2, 2. Mackenzie Magness (Freeport) 11-8, t-6. Halle Swidzinski (Butler) 10-8
BOYS
Champion and local medalists
Team standings: 1. Butler 85, 5. Seneca Valley 33
4x800 relay: 1. Butler 7:58.05, 8. Seneca Valley 8:24.26
110 hurdles: 1. Blake Cook (Corry) 14.32
100: 1. KC Wasiulewski (Fort LeBoeuf) 10.71, 2. Logan Ekas (Butler) 10.81
1600: 1. Maddox Roach (East Liverpool) 4:18.75, 2. Brendan Eicher (Butler) 4:21.12, 7. Tyler Carroll (North Catholic) 4:26.80
4x100 relay: 1. Butler 42.35
400: 1. Jonathan Newton (West Allegheny) 48.08, 2. Carter Ekas (Butler) 48.81, 6. Isaac Miller (Butler) 49.99
300 hurdles: 1. Aaron Taylor (Canon-McMillan) 37.13
800: 1. Blake Glass (Fort LeBoeuf) 1:56.12
200: 1. 2. Carter Ekas (Butler) 22.46
3200: 1. Jonah Montagnese (Quaker Valley) 8:56.16, 2. Jack Steineman (North Catholic) 9:19.66, 4. Brendan Eicher (Butler) 9:23.54
4x400 relay: 1. Butler 3:27.91
1-mile: no results provided as of 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Long jump: 1. Javon Johnston (Shady Side Academy) 22-10.50, 5. Tyson Pino (Butler) 21-5.50, 7. Jack Kandravy (North Catholic) 21-3.50
Triple jump: 1. Javon Johnston (Shady Side Academy) 46-5.50, 5. Dakari Payne (Seneca Valley) 44-3.25
High jump: 1. Sean Cartwright (Franklin Regional) 6-6, 2. Dakari Payne (Seneca Valley) 6-4
Shot put: 1. Mason Friedman (Fort LeBoeuf) 60-6
Discus: 1. Ryan Kent 163-3, 6. Conner Gartner (Seneca Valley) 140-3
Javelin: 1. Andrew Mejia (Seneca Valley) 171-10, 7. Reese Fatur (Seneca Valley) 160-6, 8. Tyson Pino (Butler) 154-1
Pole vault: 1. Alex Wilson (Karns City) 14-2, 2. Jason Wick (Butler) 14-2, 4. Johnny Iaquinta (Seneca Valley) 13-8, 7. David Tomko (Butler) 13-2
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Butler's Kiya Frederick competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Conner Gartner throws discus during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Lucas Freshwater throws the shot put during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Bryan Hazlet competes in the shot put during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Anastasia Manchester competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Addie Weaver competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Kinsley Ireland throws in the shot put during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler student Tyler Schawl plays the guitar while he waits for his event to start during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Audrey Wolfe competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Tyler Stebick throws discus during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Jaisa Gaillot competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Bryan Hazlet competes in the shot put during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Andrew Mejia competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic's Alejandro Paredes competes in the shot put during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Bryce Stamm throws discus during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic's Alana Eiler competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Reese Fatur competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Natalie Bosch competes in the shot put during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Tyson Pino competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Julianna Lockwood competes in the shot put during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic's Alejandro Paredes competes in the shot put during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Conner Gartner throws discus during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Judah Trepanier throws the discus during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Addie Weaver competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Addie Weaver competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Neah Ewing competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Jaisa Gaillot competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Morgan Clay competes in the shot put during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Kiya Frederick competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Anastasia Manchester competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic's Alana Eiler competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Neah Ewing competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Michelle Jacobson competes in the shot put during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Judah Trepanier throws discus during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Simon Rock competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Audrey Wolfe reacts to where her javelin landed during a javelin throw event at the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Addie Weaver, left, high-fives Audrey Wolfe after a javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Peyton Cene competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Michelle Jacobson competes in the shot put during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Addie Weaver competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Zachary Szebalskie competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic's Isaiah Thomas competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Hannah Butler competes in the shot put during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Gracie Hartle competes in the shot put during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Natalie Bosch competes in the shot put during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Hannah Butler competes in the discus during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Peyton Lahey competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Conner Gartner throws discus during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Reese Fatur competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Addison Hartzell throws discus during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Zachary Szebalskie competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Valencia Smith competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic's Isaiah Thomas competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Peyton Lahey competes in the javelin throw during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler student Tyler Schawl plays the guitar while he waits for his event to start during the Butler Track and Field Invitational held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
