Butler Track Star Hamlin Breaks School Record at Valentine Invite

Jesse Hamlin surpassed his previous 3000-meter record, while other Bulldogs had strong showings in the mile and 5000-meter races.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Butler track and field team competed at the David Hemery Valentine Invite in Boston, where Jesse Hamlin broke his own school record in the 3000-meter race with a time of 7:39.70. Other Bulldogs, including Austin Gabay and William Zegarski, also had impressive finishes in the mile and 5000-meter events.

Why it matters

The record-breaking performance by Hamlin and the overall strong showing by the Butler track and field team at this high-level invitational suggests the program is developing a competitive edge. Participation in these types of events provides valuable experience and opportunities for the Bulldogs to continue improving.

The details

Jesse Hamlin surpassed his previous school record in the 3000-meter race, finishing with a time of 7:39.70 and improving upon his prior record of 7:43.06. In the mile run, Austin Gabay secured 19th place with a time of 3:59.91, while David Slapak finished 34th with a time of 4:01.65. William Zegarski finished 14th in the 5000-meter race, recording a time of 13:33.23.

  • The Butler track and field team competed at the David Hemery Valentine Invite in Boston on Friday afternoon.

The players

Jesse Hamlin

A Butler track and field athlete who broke the school record in the 3000-meter race with a time of 7:39.70.

Austin Gabay

A Butler track and field athlete who finished 19th in the one-mile run with a time of 3:59.91.

David Slapak

A Butler track and field athlete who finished 34th in the one-mile run with a time of 4:01.65.

William Zegarski

A Butler track and field athlete who finished 14th in the 5000-meter race with a time of 13:33.23.

Marco Langon

A Villanova track and field athlete who won the 3000-meter race with a time of 7:34.00.

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What’s next

The majority of the Butler track and field team will compete this weekend at the Heartland Invitational, held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Bulldogs are then scheduled to participate in the Alex Wilson Invitational next weekend at the University of Notre Dame.

The takeaway

The Butler track and field team's strong performances at the Valentine Invite, including Hamlin's record-breaking run, demonstrate the program's growing competitiveness. Continued participation in high-level events will provide valuable experience and opportunities for the Bulldogs to further improve and develop their skills.