John Fetcho/Butler Athletics T&F
For the first time in college career, Butler University distance runner Matthew Forrester is headed to the NCAA Championship meet in Eugene, Oregon. Forrester qualified for the meet with a seventh-placed finish in the 5,000-meter run in the NCAA East First Round. But it’s how Forrest qualified that’s remarkable.
The graduate senior from South Africa was the last to qualify after missing out on an automatic bid, but his time of 14:00.14 was still good enough to advance. However, Forrester had to battle serious adversity along the way.
Last 2000 meters with ONE SHOE! Matthew Forrester punches his ticket to Eugene… 🐶#ButlerWay@NCAATrackField @letsrundotcom @USTFCCCA @ButlerAthletics pic.twitter.com/vcz7zoSDNT
— Butler XC/T&F (@butlerXCTF) May 31, 2025
Butler Star Matthew Forrester Runs 2,000 Meters With One Shoe To Reach NCAAs
The Bulldogs’ star managed to lose his shoe 3,000 meters into the race. That meant he had to run the final 2,000 meters (five laps) with just one shoe. Understandably, doing so was not only extremely uncomfortable but also wildly painful.
But posted a picture of Forrester’s badly torn-up left foot on its X account following the event. Not only did Forrester’s achievement mean something for himself, but it also meant that Butler became the only team in the 2025 East NCAA semifinals to send a male in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters to the finals in Eugene.
As someone who does not have any interest in running a 5K even with both shoes on, I cannot imagine what Forrester had to fight through to not only finish the race, but do so in a time good enough to advance. People don’t think of track athletes as particularly tough because it’s not a contact sport. But these guys and girls, Forrester especially, are clearly a special breed of athlete. And it’s past time for them to get the credit they deserve.