Butler Flies To National Lead At Tiger Paw Invitational

Friday, February 14

Nashville, Tenn.

University of Georgia

Music City Challenge (Distance)

Butler Flies To National Lead At Tiger Paw Invitational

February 14, 2025 | Track & Field

Tiger Paw Invite - Day 1 Results

CLEMSON, S.C. --- Junior Aaliyah Butler flew to a national leading time in the 400-meter dash and picked up a victory for Georgia to begin the two-day Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, S.C., on Friday.

In addition, sophomores Ryan Olree and Conner Rutherford had career runs at the Music City Challenge in Nashville, Tenn.  Olree sped to a third-place finish in the 5000m (14:01.01) to move to fourth in the Bulldog record books (best since 2015) while Rutherford took control of the fifth spot on UGA's all-time top 10 list with a sixth-place finish (14:05.98).

Fast Facts
*Butler set a facility record and rocketed to No. 2 in the school record books after winning the 400m with a 50.85.  The national leading time put her as No. 19 on the all-time collegiate list, situated between former Lady Bulldog Olympians Lynna Irby and Shaunae Miller-Uibo.  Also in the women's 400m, junior Dejanea Oakley positioned herself fourth in the school record books with a 52.12 that put her 12^th in the race.  A freshman Lady Bulldog, Michelle Smith, also altered the Georgia all-time top 10 list, clocking a personal best 52.97 for 18^th and improving her No. 6 spot in the record books.  Also of note, UGA volunteer assistant Bailey Lear posted a personal best of 51.81 for runner-up honors.
*Sophomore Micah Larry took off on his third attempt in the long jump and landed with a personal best to be the top collegiate finisher (second overall).  His mark of 7.91 meters/25 feet, 11 ½ inches shot him to No. 3 on UGA's all-time top 10 list and No. 4 on NCAA's 2025 list.
*Graduate transfer Stephanie Ratcliffe opened with a season best mark of 21.72m/71-3.25 to take third in the weight throw.  This effort shot her to No. 3 in the UGA record books and she is now 15^th nationally for this year.
*Junior Kalia Jackson had a season best of 7.18 to be the top collegiate finisher (second overall) in the 60m semifinal, which ranks sixth nationally this year.  Reign Redmond punched her ticket for the final with a 7.23, vaulting her to fourth on the school's all-time top 10 list.  In her collegiate debut, Redmond advanced to the semis with a 7.34.  The pair did not race in the final.
*Transfer Will Floyd sprinted to a personal best in the 400m with a 46.31 to take over the No. 8 spot in the school record books and finish 12^th.  Former Bulldog Christopher Morales Williams won that race with the world's No. 4 time this year (45.26).  In a separate 400m race, freshman Xai Ricks grabbed top honors with a personal best 46.51, which moves him to No. 10 in the school record books.
*In the 60m hurdle prelims, freshman Jayden Keys blazed to the ninth-best time in UGA history (7.96) to take 16^th before finishing 17^th in the semis.

Up Next
The Tiger Paw Invite is scheduled to crank back up on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. with junior Ella Rush in the open shot put.  Georgia's first competitor on the track at the Music City meet will be junior Katherine Law and freshman Kayla Dickerson in the 3000m at 9:30 a.m.

Where To Find Bulldogs News
Results and recaps from the Bulldogs' indoor season will be found at georgiadogs.com.  News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on X/Instagram at @UGATrack.