Simply put, senior Mike Hutton is a winner.

Hutton is the All-American captain of the St. Thomas track and field team, and he has a lengthy list of accomplishments.

In March, Hutton won the Division III national title in the indoor 800-meter run. In addition, he has received two Outstanding Men’s Track Athlete honors, broke his own school record this spring in the 800 and placed second in the 800 at the Drake Relays.

“You never settle for anything less than first,” Hutton said. “Winning the national championship was definitely the highlight.”

Not only is Hutton a phenomenal athlete, he is someone his teammates look up to as a leader.

“I don’t think there’s a better teammate you can ask for,” junior Eyo Ekpo said. “He steps in and is very vocal in the right way; every way he approaches a situation is perfect.”

Hutton said he hopes to defend his national title at the outdoor national meet later this May.

“I’m sitting No. 2 in the country, but I expect myself to go out there and run a smart race and hopefully win it,” Hutton said.

With his heralded career coming to an end, the Tommies know they will lose a star when Hutton graduates this spring.

“It’s going to be difficult for sure for anyone to fill the shoes of a Mike Hutton,” Ekpo said. “He’s a national champ and one amazing guy.”

Hayley Schnell can be reached at schn3912@stthomas.edu.