Butler Honored With Marlene Mawson Award

March 2, 2009

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas track & field senior Sha’Ray Butler has been honored with the 2009 Marlene Mawson Female Athlete of the Year Award, it was announced Saturday night during the KU-Nebraska women’s basketball game. The award is given each year to an outstanding female student-athlete who possesses competitive ideals, strong character and has demonstrated leadership qualities within athletics and other campus activities.

Butler, who was in College Station, Texas, for the 2009 Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Championships, pre-recorded her thanks on video and it was played for the fans in attendance.

A three-time team captain, Butler is a human biology major and has been a member of the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll each of the last three years. She has also been a frequent volunteer in the Kansas Athletics Community Service program.

Butler was named all-region during the 2008 outdoor season after placing fourth in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Midwest Regionals, earning her a spot in the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships. She also competed at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Championships as a member of the women’s 4×400-meter relay team.

Marlene Mawson is known as the “Mother of Kansas Women’s Athletics”. She started KU’s intercollegiate women’s sports program in 1968, and was inducted into the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday night.