Courtesy Great Bend Tribune
It was a long Saturday at Pittsburg for the Barton women's track and field team.
A long and very rewarding Saturday, that is.
The Cougars spent the day in pursuit of the 2-time defending NJCAA Indoor champion in what turned into a head-to-head battle between Barton and New Mexico Junior College for the National Championship at the Prentice Gudgen Complex.
Finally, with just four events left, the Cougars caught the Thunderbirds. From there, Barton pulled away and by the time the 1000m was in the books, Barton had the title in hand.
The Cougars took an 11-point lead into the final event of the afternoon – the 4x400m relay – knowing they could not be passed.
Indoor National Championship number 18 was in the books for the Cougar women's track and field program.
Barton finished with 119 points while New Mexico JC closed with 103. South Plains was a distant third at 63.
The indoor title was the first in 13 years for the Cougars. The Barton women's track team now has a total of 33 national titles including 15 outdoor titles.
As a school, it was national title number 57.
Prior to the 4x400m finale, Barton won two events during the day. It was the second individual win – in the 200m – where Barton overtook New Mexico JC.
T'Nia Riley won the 200m in a time of 23.91 while Kaytie Black took fifth in 24.52. Meanwhile, New Mexico JC went 3-7 in the event. Barton outscored the T-Birds 14-8 in the 200m to take a slim lead.
The Cougars kept pulling away and when Cadeebra Calcote took fourth in that next-to-last event, the 1000m, it was over. Barton got five points in the 1000m while New Mexico JC scored just one point.
The Cougars led 109-98 and the national championship was theirs.
Barton put an exclamation point on the title by winning that final event as well. Nijah Roberson, Chirstal Mosley, Azan Sargusingh and Calcote ran a 3:44.65 for the gold.
Barton's other individual win came early in day and proved a huge springboard for the afternoon.
The Cougars went 1-2-4 in the 60m for 23 points. Deborah Giffard won the event in 7.37, winning in a photo finish over Riley at 7.38. Black was fourth at 7.55.
In addition to those two individual titles, the Cougars had a pair of runner-up efforts on the track.
Mosley led a 2-3 finish in the 400m. Mosley ran 54.74 for the second place finish with Roberson finishing third in 56.24.
Calcote took second in the 600m as well.
Barton is the first team other than New Mexico JC, South Plains or Iowa Central to win the indoor since 2008.
Team Scores
Barton 119, New Mexico JC 103, South Plains 63, Monroe 58, Iowa Central 56, Cloud County 51, Central Arizona 50, Western Texas 39, Cowley 35.5, Highland 26, Southern Idaho 25, Mesa 21, Hinds 19, Butler 18, Pima 18, Paradise Valley 9.5, Colby 9, Meridian 8, Iowa Western 8, Trinidad State 8, Coffeyville 6, Hawkeye 5, Glendale 4, Hutchinson 4, Garden City 4, Allen County 4, Pratt 3, Bryant & Stratton 3, Hagerstown 2.
Barton results
60m – 1. Deborah Giffard, 7.37; 2 T'Nia Riley, 7.38; 4 Kaytie Black, 7.55.
200m – 1 T'Nia Riley, 23.91; 5 Kaytie Black, 24.52
400m – 2 Christal Mosley, 54.74; 3 Nijah Roberson, 56.24
600m – 2 Cadeebra Calcote, 1:32,11; 5 Azan Sargusingh, 1:36.13
800m – 4 Shanique Masters, 2:17.85
1000m – 4 Cadeebra Calcote, 3:02.94
60m H – 3 Yoveinny Mota, 8.61; 6 Aquila St. Lous, 8.87.
4x400m – 1 Barton (Roberson, Mosley, Sargusingh, Calcote), 3:44.65
Long jump – 8 Arianna Hayde, 18-5
Shot put – 4 Latavia Maines, 49-9.25; 6 Fiona Richards, 44-6
Weight Throw – 8 Kameliah Style, 53-0.
Pentathlon – 3 Arianna Hayde, 3356; 4 Aquila St. Louis, 3179
