Track & Field News

Hscra · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 10

Just wondering if anyone out there knows what happened to Jon Butler at UCLA. Butler ran XC and track at UCLA from1982-1986 (or there about). In HS he was a 4:08 miler and an 8:49- 2 miler. Just curious as I first saw him in the Cali State HS finals in 1981. He graduated Edison H.S. (Huntington Beach, Southern California) 1981 Smile

. Thanks to anyone who might know what he may have done and even where he is now. Smile

Bruce Kritzler · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 1577

Think he made a junior world xc team. Improved his track times a bit over hs, but don't believe he ever scored at ncaa?

malmo · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 4124

Unfortunately, one of the best resources, a website with the complete results for every Cross country world championship, is no longer working.

http://mypage.bluewin.ch/tomtytom/wxc_iaaf.html

Butler was part of the 1981 Junior team that won the World Title in Madrid.

Hscra · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 10

For what it is worth, I found out that Butler ran a 13:49 5000m at UCLA. Thank you, Bruce Kritzler and malmo, for the information, and the link to info. When I find any other information in regards to this topic/person (Jon Butler), I will share it on this thread. Anymore information,anyone? Good night! Very Happy

Master Po · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 852 Location: north coast USA

Don't know Jon Butler, but here's a 44 yo runner by that name winning masters competition in the Houston area last year. See:

http://blogs.chron.com/runhouston/2007/02/wade_byrd_take_wins_at_rodeo_r.html

If he was about 18 yo in 1981, this age in 2007 would be about right.

SQUACKEE · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:50 am Post subject:

Hscra · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 10

Wow! So Jon Butler likely moved to Sugarland,Texas! Life happens. Thank you Master Po! I remember, when Butler went head to head with Jay Marden (Mission,San Jose,California) in 1981 Cal State meet finals in the 2 Mile(3200m actually). Butler put in about a 60 sec. last lap, on his way to an 8:49.xx (converted from high 8:46.xx, 3200m). What a final burst for a HS 2 mile! Marden ran a game 8:54 (coverted from high 8:51.xx, 3200m) to finish 5 secs. back! Again thanks to Master Po and SQUACKEE for the calculations and info! Will update as new info comes my way.

tc · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 162

Butler was only a step ahead of Marden at 3000. He gained 4.7 seconds over the final 200m.

Hscra · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 10

Wow! I guess Jon Butler really turned it on and broke Jay Marden in the last half lap (200m) of the 3200m in 1981 Cal State HS 3200m final! Thanks for bringing me back to that significant detail. Jon Butler definitely had the speed, as he was a 4:08 miler compared to Jay Marden, who ran a respectable 4:13 mile in high school. As many posters probably know, it must have been sweet revenge for Butler, as Marden had previously won over Butler in XC, the previous fall season (1980), at the XC national championships. Butler had more natural speed (better track PRs) versus Marden, who came in with more strength (better XC PRs). Apparently though, Marden had better track PRs as he ran 13:48.xx (5000m) and 28:00.xx (10000m) at Cal (Berkley) vs. Butler's 13:50.xx (5000m) at UCLA, years later. Thanks for the memories, and specific details from 1981 HS Cal State 3200m final, tc! Cheers! Will continue looking for any more details on that race specifically and further on out, to Jon Butler's running career at UCLA.

jhc68 · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 2117

I asked another distance runner who knew Butler at UCLA and was told that he married a very bright pre-med major and that after leaving Westwood they both moved to the mid-west somewhere so she could attend medical school. My informant lost track of him after that, but that scenario seems to reinforce the notion that the Sugarland Jon Butler is one and the same.

Hscra · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 10

So Butler moved to the midwest or something, Huh? Now he's running masters in Sugarland,Texas. Thank you, jhc68, for the new info! Again, this is a very good start for me to follow up on! I'll post as well as I get new info. I have been busy working, and will look into this some more. Very Happy

Hscra · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 10

I found an archive of UCLA all time top-10 men marks in track and field, in which Jon Butler's best marks at UCLA were recorded. They are as follows:

-Two Miles: 8:44.18 (1982)
-5000m: 13:53.0 (1984)
-10000m: 28:47.7 (1982)

While these are not all-inclusive of his PRs in all events he might have run at UCLA, this top-10 men's marks list at least gives some headway into Jon Butler's UCLA history. On these lists, his rankings within the top-10, are:
#7, #10, #3, respectively, in the two mile, the 5000m, and the 10000 m. The home page for this data base is:

www.uclabruins.cstv.com/sports/m-track/stats/2005-2006/all.html

On this home page, click on the link to: All-Time Top 10 (in the left margin of the page).

As more is found out about Jon Butler-UCLA History, it will be posted here.

Again, thanks to all on this message board so far...

Look forward to anyone else's ideas, comments, opinions, and info! Very Happy

malmo · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 4124

World Junior Cross Championships 1981, Madrid

Butler ahead of future stars Rousseau, Antibo and Panetta

1 22:04 Mohammed Chouri (1962.05.07) 18.325 TUN
2 22:06 Yevgeniy Zherebin (1962. . ) 18/19y URS
3 22:07 Keith Brantly (1962.05.23) 18.309 USA
4 22:08 George Nicholas (1963.07.09) 17.262 USA
5 22:19 Paul Davies-Hale (1962.06.21) 18.280 ENG
6 22:21 John Butler (1962. . ) 18/19y USA
7 22:23 Vincent Rousseau (1962.07.29) 18.242 BEL
8 22:29 Salvatore Antibo (1962.02.07) 19.049 ITA
9 22:32 Francesco Panetta (1963.01.10) 18.077 ITA
10 22:32 Chris Hamilton (1962.03.29) 18.364 USA

Bruce Kritzler · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 1577

Brantly ran this race with a cast on his hand-wrist, after some late night fisticuffs in Gainesville.

malmo · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 4124

The cast went from his wrist to his elbow. When I asked him how he broke it he said that he got in a bar-fight with a bouncer. I said, "Hey, you're not even old enough to drink!" He said, " So?"