Former Butler All-American Victoria Mitchell named to Australian Olympic Team

July 7, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS - Former Butler All-American Victoria Mitchell has been chosen to the 2008 Australian Olympic Team for this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing, China. She earned her Olympic berth in the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase.

Mitchell was one of two female athletes named to the Australian Olympic Team in the steeplechase. She's run 11 races under the 9:46 Olympic standard and boasts a personal best of 9:30.84.

A two-time NCAA track and field All-American, Mitchell won the 2005 NCAA Division I steeplechase national championship, while competing at Butler. She became the Bulldogs' first individual national champion in 73 years! She also earned All-America honors in cross country and placed fourth in the 2005 NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championship.

Mitchell was a two-time Horizon League Track and Field Athlete of the Year (2004 & 2005), and she was named Horizon League Cross Country Athlete of the Year in 2004. She holds Butler's track and field records for both the 3,000 meter steeplechase (9:53.24) and the 5,000 meter run (16:06.72).

--Story provided by the Butler office of sports information