The Barton Community College men's track and field team concluded the season on Saturday with a 3rd placing at the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Championships hosted by Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas.
In the three-day event's closing race, the Cougars' 4x400m relay completed the mission of no-less than a second place finish in jumping Barton into the third hardware spot of the team standings. Compiling 68 points, Barton's total was just a .5 point ahead of Coffeyville as South Plains took the title with 104 points ahead of Iowa Western's 85. The Cougars' result marked the fifth straight year finishing the season within the top three of the national meet.
Trailing Coffeyville in the team standings, the Red Ravens did not qualify a 400m relay for the finals leaving the door open for the Cougars to extend their Top-3 streak. Beginning with the start from 400m national champion Elijah Mosley, the baton passed to 100m and 200m Top-9 placers Almond Small to 400m hurdle qualifier Cedric Williams before being taken around the last lap by 400m 7th placer Telron Bradford Jr. to anchor the 3:12.22 runner-up performance earning the pivotal eight team points.
In addition to Mosley's championship, Barton grabbed two additional titles in the field events.
Anthony Woods pulled the upset on Thursday, derailing fellow Cougar Shakwon Coke's bid for his fifth long jump title, soaring to a 7.64m (25-00.75) winning distance. Coke, who has been battling nagging injuries through the season, placed runner-up with a 7.55m (24-09.25) mark. The duo would also battle in the triple jump, Woods placing 6th at 15.07m (49-05.50) while Coke's valiant efforts failed to get a legal mark.
The anticipated Barton dual for the shot put title didn't materialize on Friday but the end result was atleast one Cougar on top of the medal stand as Giovanni Gutierrez marked a personal best and program 4th best ever 18.32m (60-01.25) mark. Brandon Lloyd, who surpassed Gutierrez two weeks ago in Garden City for the fourth spot at 18.15m, had an off meet in placing 12th at just 15.05m (49-04.50).
Prior to his national title, Gutierrez gave the Cougars an unexpected two points in Thursday's hammer throw. Not qualified in the event, Gutierrez' white card (aka wild card exemption) entry paid dividends as a personal best 47.48m (155-09) distance placed 7th overall. On Saturday, Lloyd would become one of Barton's six performances landing in the top two with a national runner-up discus throw on a 53.49m mark.
Barton Men's Results
100m: 9th Almond Small (10.33)
200m: 5th Almond Small (21.05, 20.95 in Prelims), 11th Elijah Mosley (21.02)
400m: NATIONAL CHAMPION Elijah Mosley (47.22, 46.83 in Prelims), 7th Telron Bradford Jr. (52.07, 47.14 in Prelims)
400m Hurdles: 18th Cedric Williams (55.40)
Discus Throw: National Runner-Up Brandon Lloyd (53.49m, 175-06), 17th Giovanni Gutierrez (42.35m, 138-11)
Hammer Throw: 7th Giovanni Gutierrez (PB 47.48m, 155-09)
Long Jump: NATIONAL CHAMPION Anthony Woods (7.64m, 25-00.75), National Runner-Up Shakwon Coke (7.55m, 24-09.25)
Shot Put: NATIONAL CHAMPION Giovanni Gutierrez (PB 18.32m, 60-01.25 *Program 4th Best), 12th Brandon Lloyd (15.05m, 49-04.50)
Triple Jump: 6th Anthony Woods (15.07m, 49-05.50)
4x100m Relay: 6th 40.87 (40.27 in Prelims) (Marcus Purcell, Almond Small, Telron Bradford Jr., Andrew Ferguson)
4x400m Relay: National Runner-Up 3:12.22 (3:11.19 in Prelims) (Elijah Mosley, Almond Small, Cedric Williams, Telron Bradford Jr.)
Complete results found at NJCAA Championships