Frost snaps Butler record

By Mike KilroyEagle Staff Writer

BUTLER TWP — Lexis Frost looked up at the time on the scoreboard at Art Bernardi Stadium Friday night and smiled.
The official time was 15.27 seconds — a Butler High girls track record in the 100-meter hurdles.
While that was plenty to smile about, the journey Frost had taken to break that record made that grin even bigger.
In the winter of 2009, Frost was tumbling during a gymnastics practice when her Achilles tendon ruptured.
“The doctor said he had never seen anyone under the age of 19 split one in half so badly, let alone a 16-year-old,” said Butler girls track coach Annessa Steele.
Achilles tendon injuries seem to run in the Frost family. Lexis' father, Doug, has ruptured both.
Lexis Frost, though, wasn't sure if she would regain the burgeoning skills that made her one of the up-and-coming track and field stars at Butler.
She lost her sophomore year to the injury.
“Rehab was tough,” said Frost, now a junior. “The first couple of days, I wanted to get out and do things that I couldn't. My family, my friends and coaches really supported me during the long process.”
Her Achilles was repaired in part by using strands of a Kevlar — the same material that is used in bulletproof vests. Doctors told Frost the repaired tendon would be stronger than the original.
Frost said it didn't take long for her to feel 100 percent.
“They said I would feel the difference, but I don't,” Frost said. “I feel like I did when I was a freshman.”
It showed during indoor season when Frost broke a Butler indoor record in the triple jump and advanced to the PIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
That record was unexpected and so was her mark Friday in the 100 hurdles. Melanie Buczko held the previous record, which she set in 2003.
“It was a pretty awesome feeling,” Frost said. “I knew it was close (to a record), but I didn't know for sure. I was surprised.”
Frost, though, expects to get even better.
“I have the support of my coaches. I have coach (Jeff) Renwick yelling at me every day, but yelling at me in a good way. My team really supports me.”
And she is on a very talented team.
In part because of Frost's record-setting day, the Golden Tornado won the Butler Invitational Friday and is 5-0 in dual meets this season.
Besides her performance in the hurdles, Frost won the triple jump. She also filled in for injured teammate Jasmine Bailey on Butler's 4x100 meter relay and helped the Golden Tornado win that event.
Frost, who is just happy to be back on the track, said she is just as thrilled to be a part of a successful program.
“It's nice to do well as an individual,” Frost said. “It's better to do well as a team.”