Gauson and Conrad named Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Year

INDIANAPOLIS -- Butler University junior Kris Gauson and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee junior Kelsey Conrad have been named 2009 Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Year in a vote of the League's eight head coaches.

Gauson, a middle distance specialist from Edinburgh, Scotland, helps Butler win the Men's Athlete of the Year award for the fifth time in the past six years.

Gauson set a Butler school record and captured the 800-meter individual title (1:51.07) at the Horizon League Indoor Championships. The clocking topped the NCAA provisional qualifying mark.

He also turned in the second-fastest mile in school history (4:00.99) and topped the NCAA provisional qualifying time at the Husky Classic in Seattle, Wash. His clocking was the fastest of any Horizon League athlete during the 2009 indoor season.

Conrad, a sprinter from Robbinsdale, Minn., helps Milwaukee win the Women's Athlete of the Year honor for the fourth time in the past six years.

Conrad notched two individual titles -- 60 meter (7.69) and 200 meter (24.70) -- and helped UWM to the distance medley relay crown (12:12.77) at the Horizon League Indoor Championships. She also turned in a 400-meter time of 55.51 at the NCAA Qualifier in Ames, Iowa.

Conrad's 200, 400 and DMR clockings all broke Milwaukee school records, while her 200 time was also good for a Horizon League Indoor Championships all-time best.

The two-time Horizon League Indoor Track Athlete of the Week was part of Milwaukee's third indoor team championship in the past four years.

The 2009 Horizon League Outdoor Track & Field Championships are set for May 1-3 in Lisle, Ill.