Gordon takes over nation’s top spot, Cougars take both relays at John Jacobs Invitational

The Barton Community College men's track and field team headed south this past weekend to Norman, Oklahoma, for the 46th Annual John Jacobs Invitational hosted by the University of Oklahoma.  Competing against four-year colleges and universities, the Cougars posted thirteen personal best performances with four falling within the top twenty performances in school history.

Deron Gordon was the big story on the track as the recent University of Clemson commit took over the top spot in the nation blazing to a 50.90 time taking first place in the 400m Hurdles while etching his name in the fifth spot of Barton history.  Zodani Francois also bettered his personal best and national qualifying time finishing third in 54.19.

Quick Stukes was another big story on Saturday as the sophomore bettered his national qualifying time in the 400m clocking a nation's third best 46.77 to finish third while checking in at the number sixteen spot in Cougar history. Micah Carey also had a great run recording a personal best 48.29 in finishing ninth and qualifying for the national championships.

In the sprints, Mike Simmons led the Cougars with 100m fifth place finish in 10.71 with Shadrack Adu-Gyamfi coming in .09 seconds later at 10.80 to place 10th.   Simmons also led a contingent of four Cougars in the 200m as each were below national qualifying times.  Simmons' personal best 21.29 clocking just edged out Anthony Adderly's best 21.35 for 9th place with Deandre Henderson's first appearance in the 200m earned a 12th place 21.37 finish with Alexander Richemond .04 seconds behind in 21.41 for 13th place. 

Sampson Laari was another to put his name in the Barton history book at the 14th slot with a personal best 1:51.48 in the 800m to finish sixth.  Tyler Thornton also had a solid meet with a personal best 1:57.26 in finishing 17th.

Barton dominated the relays winning both the 4X100m and 4X400m.  Adu-Gyamfi, Richemond, Simmons, and Henderson ran slightly slower than their nation best sixth time but still managed to capture first with a 40.58.   It took a season best effort by the Cougars to edge out the University of Alabama in the 4X400m as Gordon, Stukes, Henderson, and Richemond won in a photo finish .02 second difference in a nation's second best 3:08.53 and twelfth best time in school history.

In the field events Alireza Rafiei eclipsed a personal best Shot Put increasing his national qualifying mark to 16.21m (53-02.25) in placing 8th with the schools fifteenth best throw.  Rafiei also placed 15th in Discus Throw with a personal best 40.74m (133-08.25) being out thrown by Donald Daley's personal best 47.45m (155-08.50) 9th place finish to increase his qualifying mark and Romario Antoine's 12th place 45.29m (148-07.25) heave.   Daley also hit qualifying marks in the Hammer Throw with a personal best 50.82m (166-09.00) in placing 8th.   Colby Overturf saved his best throw for last placing ninth in the Javelin at 51.4m (168-10.20). 

The Cougars will have a rare mid-week meet heading to Emporia, Kansas, on Wednesday competing in the one day ESU Midweek Open hosted by Emporia State University.