How the Ekas triplets are leaving their footprints with Butler track and field
BUTLER TWP — Three times the fun, maybe.
Three times the run, definitely.
Butler seniors Carter, Logan and Lilly Ekas have been shining during the indoor and outdoor seasons for the Golden Tornado track and field teams — and they’re triplets.
“I’m sure this is pretty rare,” Lilly said of the trio enjoying the same sport for the same team.
“I’ve had twins on the team before. I had three Stebick brothers on the team last year, but as a freshman, sophomore and senior,” longtime Butler track coach Mike Seybert said. “But in my 41 years of coaching ... triplets? This is clearly a first.
“Usually, in a situation like this, one excels at basketball or baseball, one plays football or softball, whatever. Having them as track teammates, all running, is rather unique.
Carter runs the 200 and 400 meters, along with legs of the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relay units, indoor and outdoor combined. Logan does the 100, 200, 4x100 and 4x200. Lilly competes in the 800 and on the 4x800 relay.
“They’re making an impact,” Seybert said.
Within the past year, Carter has elevated himself to a potential Division I collegiate runner. His time of 49.17 seconds in Saturday’s 400 at the SPIRE Ohio Preview meet in Geneva, Ohio, moved him into second behind Guinness Brown on the Tornado’s all-time list. His mark of 22.52 seconds in the 200 trails only Brown’s school record of 21.41 in Butler track lore.
“I’d love to get to the point where I can challenge those Guinness Brown records,” Carter said. “I’m just happy to be up there. I took seven seconds off my personal-best time last year.
“As a triplet, I never thought about that being a big thing here. The three of us have done a lot of things together. It’s just every-day life for us.”
Carter also ran a leg of the Tornado’s 4x400 relay that broke the WPIAL record with a time of 3:17.49 seconds last spring. Penn Hills set the previous record 14 years ago.
Seybert expressed disbelief at Carter’s meteoric rise in the record books.
“As a sophomore, he wasn’t even among our top 12 all-time,” the coach said. “He was an average runner on our team. Then he just took off. The kid just decided he wanted it. He’s totally gotten after it.”
Logan has always been among the Tornado’s elite sprinters. He ran a leg of the 4x100 relay that broke the school record last year with a time of 42.14 seconds. He also ranks third on Butler’s all-time list in the indoor 60 meters, trailing only Chris Rubcic and Brown.
“That 4x1 came within .04 of a second of breaking the WPIAL record last year,” Seybert said. “I know they’ll make a run at it this year.”
Butler’s 4x100 placed sixth at the 2025 PIAA Track and Field Championships.
“I want to get my name on that record board in the locker room,” Logan said. “We deserve to be on there. We worked hard for it.”
Logan suffered a torn hamstring last indoor season that cost him most of his outdoor track campaign. He admitted he’s mindful of the hamstring when he runs in an indoor meet now.
“My goal is to have a great outdoor season. I’m using the indoor meets to get ready for that,” he said.
The Ekas boys both got started in track and field as eighth-graders. Their sister did not begin until her freshman year.
Now Lilly’s looking to make up for lost time, having left the program for a few months her sophomore year. She ran for the Tornado cross country team, as well.
“I went to my brothers’ track meets in eighth grade, and they looked like fun,” she said. “I felt like giving it a try. It turned out my niche was more distance running. I love it. I want to do it in college. All three of us do. We’re just not sure where yet.
“My best time in the 800 is only 2:33, and that’s middle of the pack for Butler. I want to beat my PR.This is my last (high school) season, and I want it to be my best season by far.”
Seybert figures the triplets will compete in track in college, but at different levels.
“I can see Carter at Kent State, where I know he wants to go, Logan at Slippery Rock maybe, Lilly getting a chance somewhere, as well. They’ll go their separate ways.
“But having them here right now as triplets ... pretty cool.”
