Barton men post twelve national qualifying marks at Holiday Inn Invite

The Barton Community College men's track and field team competed in their second meet of the indoor season this weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska at the Holiday Inn Invitational.  Held at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Indoor Track on the campus of the University of Nebraska, the Cougars posted ten individual and two relay national qualifying performances competing against athletes from the University of Nebraska, Iowa State University, Oklahoma State University, Drake University, the University of South Dakota, Jayhawk Conference members Cowley College and Cloud County Community Colleges, as well as, NJCAA rivals Iowa Central and Iowa Western Community Colleges.

"We are really starting to show our strengths," said Barton Head Track and Field Coach David Schenek.   "As we move forward, I think it's important we improve our weaknesses and continue to work towards the goals of team championships."

The performance of the meet came in the final event.  The 4x400m team of Deron Gordon, Quick Stukes, Deandre Henderson and Kennedy Mayweather captured the meet title in a national qualifying time of 3:16.21.  Barton also qualified the Distance Medley team of Antonio Perez, Anthony Adderly, Anthony Forrest and Devyn Brotherton, recording a time of 10:34.01.

In the distances Perez and Forrest notched national marks in the 800m, running 1:57.88 and 1:57.92 to finish 14th and 15th respectively.  Brady Holler led Barton in the 1000m with a national mark of 2:40.46 to finish 16th.  Teammates Tyler Thornton and Kole Stiner finished 18th and 23rd with times of 2:43.21 and 2:49.87 respectively.  In the 3000m Brotherton ran a season's best time of 9:07.63.

In the sprints Alex Richemond ran 7.05 to finish 14th in the 60m.  Gordon finished 4th with a time of 8.14 and Zodani Francois finished 14th in 8.39 in the 60m High Hurdles.  But it is was in the 200m where the Cougars hit their stride.  Henderson, Richmond and Adderly all hit the national qualifying mark of 22.33 seconds, running 21.79, 21.99 and 22.31 respectively to finish 3rd, 5th, and 12th.  In the 400m Mayweather broke the fifty second barrier to notch a national mark of 49.95, finishing 15th. Jaquez Wilson ran 50.79 to finish 21st.

In the field events Donald Daley's 15.24m (50-00.00) mark in the Weight Throw just missed qualifying by a centimeter.  Daley came back in the Shot Put to lead the Barton men with a throw of 14.91m (48-11.00), finishing 9th.  Alireza Rafiei threw 14.77m (48-05.50) to finish 10th while newcomer Romario Antoine threw 14.76m (48-05.25) for 11th.

The Cougars return to action in two weeks as Barton travels to Lubbock, Texas, for the two day Masked Rider Open to be held January 30-31 at Texas Tech University.

Barton Performance List:

60m:
Alex Richemond (14th) 7:05 Q
60m High Hurdles:
Deron Gordon (4th) 8.14 Q
Zodani Francis (11th) 8.39
200m:
Deondre Henderson (3rd) 21.79 Q
Alex Richemond (5th) 21.99 Q
Anthony Adderly (12th) 22.31 Q
400m:
Kennedy Mayweather (15th) 49.95 Q
Jaquez Wilson (21st) 50.79
600m:
Deron Gordon (9th) 1:22.46 Q
800m:
Tony Perez (14th) 1:57.88 Q
Anthony Forrest (15th) 1:57.92 Q
1000m:
Brady Holler (16th) 2:40.46 Q
Tyler Thornton (18th) 2:43.21
Kole Steiner (23rd) 2:49.87
1 Mile Run:
Marcus Pastran (23rd) 5:04.19
Darrius Salmond (24th) 5:08.88
3000m:
Devyn Brotherton (15th) 9:07.63
Weight Throw:
Donald Daley (10th) 15.24m (50-00.00) *on third throw after two fouls
Shot Put:
Donald Daley (9th) 14.91m  (48-11.00)
Alireza Rafiei (10th) 14.77m  (48-05.50)
Romario Antoine (11th) 14.76m (48-05.25)
Distance Medley Relay:
Perez, Adderly, Forrest, Brotherton (7th) 10:34.01 Q
4x400m Relay:
Gordon, Stukes, Henderson Mayweather (1st) 3:16.21 Q