The was a knock on the door last week but this past weekend there was a kick-in as the 2018 version of the Barton Community College men's track and field team is making big noise in just its second meet of the year. Competing in the highly competitive Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational, the Cougars made a lot of progress on its trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico, returning home with a school record amongst its sixteen personal bests and twenty-two top ten placings.
Last week it was the impressive shot put debut of Kevin Nedrick. Earning the conference field athlete of the week by winning the Nebraska Graduate Classic with a mark just .02m shy of the record, this week it was sophomore Sanjae Lawrence. Despite a personal best last week, Lawrence finished runner-up in Nebraska. Saturday in New Mexico, Lawrence not only beat out his teammate but rewrote the Barton record book by over a foot with an 18.39m (60-04.00) throw on his second attempt to better Garland Porter's 2003 best of 18.04m (59-02.25). Just for good measure, on his fourth attempt Lawrence also hit an 18.15m (59-06.75) throw and just missed exceeding his new record by another foot but couldn't hold the landing. The Florida State University signee finished fourth in the event behind two UCLA and a USC thrower while Nedrick placed eighth with an "off-day" throw of 17.27m (56-08.00).
Also assaulting the storied record book was the 60m blazing down the track by Florida sophomore Terence Ware. Resetting his best last week at 6.70, Ware surpassed the time in taking the meet title with a 6.63 time, launching into the Barton book at third place. Liberty University signee Christian Lyon also clocked a personal best with a 6.82 fifth place finish.
Dartez Hamlin won his second straight 200m title by erasing his 21.74 debut time with a 21.32 clocking to win by .08 over New Mexico's Carlos Salcido. Barton would have three in the top ten as Lyon recorded his second personal best time by bettering his 200m time last week with a 21.51 fourth place finish with Darien Wells making his debut with a ninth place 21.69 time.
The Cougars were also strong in the 400m with five in the top thirteen in the thirty-nine man field. Leading the charge was Wells with a 48.73 to just beat out fellow freshman Travis Hugg's 48.74 for sixth place with Kyle Mason, Jr. giving Barton three top nine finishers crossing in 48.91. Resetting their personal bests were Hilton McClain, Jr. with a 49.03 in placing 11th while Adriano Gumbs' 49.25 was good for 13th.
Complete Barton Men's Results:
Long Jump: Travis Hugg (10th, *PR 7.12, 23-04.50), Other Results: Alvin McCray (*PR 7.05m, 23-01.75), Bradley Fleurinord (6.99m, 22-11.25), Cirr Davis (6.41m, 21-00.50)
Triple Jump: Cirr Davis (7th, 14.16m, 46-05.50), Willie Rodgers (8th, 14.12m, 46-04.00), Other Results: Tahj Whitfield (13.44m, 44-01.250
High Jump: Alvin McCray (8th, 2.02m, 6-07.50)
Shot Put: Sanjae Lawrence (4th, *PR 18.39m, 60-04.00, *school record), Kevin Nedrick (8th, 17.27m, 56-08.00), Other Results: Enrique Martinez (10.97m, 36-00.00)
Weight Throw: Enrique Martinez (4th, 16.95m, 55-07.50), Graham Sokol (5th, *PR 16.76m, 55-00.00), Other Results: Sanjae Lawrence (8th, 14.43m, 47-04.25), Kevin Nedrick (13.03m, 42-09.00), Trey Lee (11.87m, 38-11.50)
60m: Terence Ware (1st, PR 6.63, *3rd best school history), Christian Lyon (5th, *PR 6.82), Other Results: Demetri Keaton (*PR 6.94), Dartez Hamlin (6.98), Bradley Fleurinord (7.16)
200m: Dartez Hamlin (1st, *PR 21.32), Christian Lyon (4th, PR 21.51), Darien Wells (9th, 21.69), Other Results: Demetri Keaton (22.35), Kyle Mason, Jr. (22.36)
400m: Darien Wells (6th, 49.60), Travis Hugg (7th, 48.74), Kyle Mason, Jr. (48.91), Other Results: Hilton McClain, Jr. (*PR 49.03), Adriano Gumbs (*PR 49.25)
600m: Michale Reyes (9th, *PR 1:19.85), Other Results: Kenroy Williams (*PR 1:20.24), Brandon Felix (1:24.69)
800m: Tallan James (7th, 1:56.41)
60m Hurdles: Charlie Forbes (4th, *PR 8.11), Stephon Torrence (7th, 8.39, *PR 8.04 in prelims), Other Results: Tahj Whitfield (8.59)
4x400m Relay: (3rd, 3:14.00 *Season Best), (Kyle Mason, Jr., Darien Wells, Brandon Felix, Christian Lyon)