Licking Valley standout likes to stay busy on track

• Licking Valley's Griffin Butler won the 1,600 during the Hank Smith Invitational.
• Butler was an All-Ohio finisher in the state cross country meet this past fall.

HEATH – Griffin Butler had a heavy workload for the hottest day of the spring on Saturday.

It was no sweat for the area's hardest-working man. The Licking Valley junior is not interested in taking a break.

He sandwiched a victory in the 1,600 inside two strong 800s during the Hank Smith Invitational at Heath.

"We are with a lot of the people in our district, so it is nice to see how we are all comparing with each other," Butler said. "It is just a lot of fun to be able to come out and do this. I am very blessed for it."

Butler ran the lead-off leg of the 3,200 relay in 2:02, putting the Panthers into good position for an eventual fourth-place finish. He then waged a battle with a familiar foe in the 1,600.

Butler rallied past Granville's Tyler Keenan and edged out Liberty Union's Wyatt Gardner for the title in the 1,600, finishing in 4:34.88. Butler and Gardner battle almost weekly during the cross country season, and it has continued on the track.

"(Gardner) is an awesome runner, and I have a lot of respect for him," Butler said. "It was unexpected (that Keenan took the lead). Especially the second and third laps. I could feel the pace picking up."

This was actually a rare day where Butler did not run the 3,200, too. Instead, he competed in the 800, placing in third with a 2:05.07.

Butler does not put up as gaudy of times as some of his central Ohio contemporaries largely because of the amount of racing he does. With an improving team, Butler wants to do what he can to move the Panthers up the ladder.

It is a selflessness that shows in his running, too. Butler earned All-Ohio honors at the Division II state cross country meet this past fall, and he is doing his best to not let it change him.

"I am coming into the track season confident, but I am trying to not get too conceited with myself," Butler said. "That won't help me at all."

Butler qualified to the regional in both the 1,600 and 3,200 a season ago. He placed sixth in the 1,600 and 10th in the 3,200.

Would Butler like to have one day to just sit back and let loose in one event? Does he wonder just how fast he can go on the track?

Apparently not.

"We had a (dual) meet at Lakewood," Butler said. "(Coach Matt Sorg) only put me in two events, and it definitely felt weird. I ended up picking up a 400."

Snyder is a sports writer for The Advocate. Tell him what you think at ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com.