University of Georgia Athletics
Butler On Olympic Spot: ‘It Means Everything’
June 24, 2024 | Track & Field, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Georgia sprinter Aaliyah Butler has a history of breaking through and achieving great things at a young age. She did it again Sunday night in the biggest race of her life.
As a freshman in high school, Butler broke the Florida state record in the 400 meters, won the first of her three prep state championships, and earned the first of her three All-American honors.
On Sunday night, in the finals of the 400 at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, in Eugene, Ore., Butler ran the race of her life and qualified for the Paris Olympics with a second-place finish. A few weeks after wrapping up her sophomore season at Georgia, she ran the grueling sprint in 49.71 seconds, lowering the school record she set in May at the SEC Outdoor Championships.
"It means everything. I've dreamed of it since I was a little kid starting track, and going to the Olympics has always been a big deal. Plus, it's in Paris, and I've always wanted to go to Paris," Butler said from Oregon during a Zoom call Monday, shortly before going off to do the processing and registration — and getting loads of cool Team USA gear — that comes with making the Olympic team.
Butler was one of three collegiate sprinters in the final, along with Arkansas' Kaylyn Brown and South Carolina's JaMeesia Ford. Also in the final was former Bulldog Lynna Irby-Jackson, who finished in seventh with a time of 50.74. Brown had the top time (49.71) in Saturday's semifinals, followed by professional Kendall Ellis (49.81) and Butler (50.01).
In Sunday's final, with a spot in Paris secured for the top three finishers, Ellis ran a personal-best 49.46 to win the race. It was the third-fastest time in Trials history, according to USA Track and Field. Butler, who along with Ellis was just ahead of the pack for the final 200, placed second with her best time ever, and pro Alexis Holmes finished right after Butler, in 49.78. All three ran personal bests to earn their spots on the team.
"I knew I was top three when I crossed the finish line. I just went out there and gave it my all the last 100," Butler said. "And when I turned around and looked at the (scoreboard), and I saw my name in second place, I was like, Oh, my gosh, this really happened. I got excited and started hugging everybody."
Butler joins Bulldog legend Keturah Orji on the U.S. women's team. Orji, who won seven NCAA triple jump titles and one long jump title during her extraordinary career, and led the Georgia women to the 2018 NCAA Indoor team championship, will be heading to her third Olympics. In 2016, after her sophomore year, Orji placed fourth in the triple jump in Rio.
Brown, who placed second at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a time of 49.13, ran 50.07 to finish fourth Sunday. Butler, meanwhile, didn't even make the final at NCAAs. She said a hamstring issue slowed her down at the NCAA East Prelims and at the NCAAs (held on the same track as the Trials), and she used the couple of weeks between the major meets to get healthy and regain some confidence.
"I just had to talk to my coaches and get back right and get ready for Olympic Trials, because I knew it wasn't over," she said.
Butler was one of the fastest competitors throughout the two rounds of qualifying, but she probably wasn't considered one of the favorites to make the team. During the race broadcast, the announcers didn't even mention her name until 34 seconds into the race, when she and Ellis had pulled slightly ahead of the field after about 200 meters. They said her name plenty at the end, however, and there she was being interviewed afterward alongside Ellis and Holmes.
For Butler, who started believing this moment was possible when she began setting records in high school, earning her spot in Paris is a dream come true.
"My freshman year in high school, when I broke the state record and I ran 50 (seconds) for the first time, is when I realized I could be really good at this," she said.
That she is, and the 20-year-old isstill just getting started.
Staff Writer
Georgia sprinter Aaliyah Butler has a history of breaking through and achieving great things at a young age. She did it again Sunday night in the biggest race of her life.
As a freshman in high school, Butler broke the Florida state record in the 400 meters, won the first of her three prep state championships, and earned the first of her three All-American honors.
On Sunday night, in the finals of the 400 at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, in Eugene, Ore., Butler ran the race of her life and qualified for the Paris Olympics with a second-place finish. A few weeks after wrapping up her sophomore season at Georgia, she ran the grueling sprint in 49.71 seconds, lowering the school record she set in May at the SEC Outdoor Championships.
"It means everything. I've dreamed of it since I was a little kid starting track, and going to the Olympics has always been a big deal. Plus, it's in Paris, and I've always wanted to go to Paris," Butler said from Oregon during a Zoom call Monday, shortly before going off to do the processing and registration — and getting loads of cool Team USA gear — that comes with making the Olympic team.
Butler was one of three collegiate sprinters in the final, along with Arkansas' Kaylyn Brown and South Carolina's JaMeesia Ford. Also in the final was former Bulldog Lynna Irby-Jackson, who finished in seventh with a time of 50.74. Brown had the top time (49.71) in Saturday's semifinals, followed by professional Kendall Ellis (49.81) and Butler (50.01).
In Sunday's final, with a spot in Paris secured for the top three finishers, Ellis ran a personal-best 49.46 to win the race. It was the third-fastest time in Trials history, according to USA Track and Field. Butler, who along with Ellis was just ahead of the pack for the final 200, placed second with her best time ever, and pro Alexis Holmes finished right after Butler, in 49.78. All three ran personal bests to earn their spots on the team.
"I knew I was top three when I crossed the finish line. I just went out there and gave it my all the last 100," Butler said. "And when I turned around and looked at the (scoreboard), and I saw my name in second place, I was like, Oh, my gosh, this really happened. I got excited and started hugging everybody."
Butler joins Bulldog legend Keturah Orji on the U.S. women's team. Orji, who won seven NCAA triple jump titles and one long jump title during her extraordinary career, and led the Georgia women to the 2018 NCAA Indoor team championship, will be heading to her third Olympics. In 2016, after her sophomore year, Orji placed fourth in the triple jump in Rio.
Brown, who placed second at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a time of 49.13, ran 50.07 to finish fourth Sunday. Butler, meanwhile, didn't even make the final at NCAAs. She said a hamstring issue slowed her down at the NCAA East Prelims and at the NCAAs (held on the same track as the Trials), and she used the couple of weeks between the major meets to get healthy and regain some confidence.
"I just had to talk to my coaches and get back right and get ready for Olympic Trials, because I knew it wasn't over," she said.
Butler was one of the fastest competitors throughout the two rounds of qualifying, but she probably wasn't considered one of the favorites to make the team. During the race broadcast, the announcers didn't even mention her name until 34 seconds into the race, when she and Ellis had pulled slightly ahead of the field after about 200 meters. They said her name plenty at the end, however, and there she was being interviewed afterward alongside Ellis and Holmes.
For Butler, who started believing this moment was possible when she began setting records in high school, earning her spot in Paris is a dream come true.
"My freshman year in high school, when I broke the state record and I ran 50 (seconds) for the first time, is when I realized I could be really good at this," she said.
That she is, and the 20-year-old isstill just getting started.
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track & FieldGeorgia Track & Field - Clemson Invitational - Highlights
Monday, January 12
Georgia Track & Field Outdoor National Championships Video Recap
Monday, June 16
Georgia Track & Field Outdoor NCAAs Day 2 Recap
Friday, June 13
Georgia Track & Field Feature: Throwers Profile
Monday, June 09