Butler Eyes Podium with Spring Around The Corner

If you spend much time driving around Hanover after school, chances are you’ve passed Griffin Butler a time or two. The senior cross country and track star seldoms seems to take a day off and most of the time can be found gliding down the sidewalks through the crisp winter air. Labelled by many as the greatest runner in LV history, Butler has lined his personal trophy case over the past four years.

Since joining LV’s cross country program in 2012, Butler has become a 4 year letterman as well as a two time All-Ohioan. He holds the school’s record for the event and went so far this year as to place 6th in this past year’s OHSAA State Cross Country Championship for Division II.

Just has impressive has been his performance each spring. Over his first three seasons, in addition to three varsity letters Butler has broken the school record in both the 1600m and 3200m events. In the 2015 OHSAA State Track and Field Championships he placed 13th in the 1600m for Division II.

Due to these impressive feats this winter, Butler was offered a spot on the track and cross country team at Ohio University in Athens, where he has verbally committed to attend and study physical therapy next fall. With everything set in place, most people would understand if Butler were to rest on his laurels this last spring and prepare himself for the next level in the fall, but that is not the way he is wired.

When asked his goals for his final track season Butler replied, “I would like to podium at the state meet in at least two events.” He went on to include resetting his own school records and acquiring one more record, the 800m record currently held by his dad Corby Butler, in other milestones ahead.

A final piece of unfinished business for Butler, “I want to be a district champion.”

With lofty goals like those in mind it is no wonder that Butler trains as hard as he does. When questioned what younger athletes who look to him as a model should try and do he simply replies, “Work hard and never give up. Don’t cut workouts short, not finishing them only hurts you. Have faith in your abilities and listen to your coaches.”

The question this spring is not if Griffin Butler will be prepared, it isn’t even if he will succeed. The question is simply, how far will he go?