Butler freshman Landon Slear runs to 5th in 800 at Nike Outdoor Nationals
Butler freshman Landon Slear reached the podium in his high school debut in the 2026 Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Ore.
Slear finished fifth in the freshman 800-meter race, crossing in a time of 1:57.30.
After Texas’ Chance Anderson won in a blistering 1:52.61 and the next two runners finished in sub-1:56 times, it was a tight bunch around Slear.
The middle distance athlete qualified for last month’s PIAA Track and Field Championships with Butler’s 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams and had a PR of 1:57.99 in the 800, tops in Butler County in 2026.
In the WPIAL championships, the 4x800 relay won gold with Slear in the third leg, and the 4x400 claimed silver with Slear in the same spot in the lineup.
Classmate Justin Sellinger ran a 2:03.06 in the 800 to finish 45th. Slear was scheduled to run the night’s 400-meter race but did not compete in it.
