Young breaks program top mark to join two others in record book rewriting, 4th ranked Cougars add six more qualifiers at New Mexico Team Open #GoBarton

The program top ten list took another hit in the third week of the indoor season as the 4th ranked Barton Community College men's track and field program competed this weekend in Albuquerque at the New Mexico Team Open.

Three performances made claims to the record book in the two day competition with the Cougars posting eleven personal bests and added six more national tickets bringing their qualifying list to twenty-two.

It was only a matter of time before Christopher Young would see his name atop the Barton record book and Saturday afternoon the time had come. Ranking third on the outdoor shot put and discus list and sitting in second on the indoor shot put chart, Young finally climbed to the top spot on his second heave of the day posting an event winning 18.67m (61-03.00) distance to take over Fred Moudani's 2021 record by one inch.

Fellow national qualifiers Ricardo Hayles and Christopher Crawford were also in the four-year level competitor dominated field with Hayles posting an 8th place 16.61m (54-06.00) mark with Crawford two spots down in 10th at 16.21m (53-02.25).

The first of Barton's two program impacts on the track occurred in Friday's 200m competition as Aaron Charles began his two-event national qualifying weekend by placing runner-up in a program 6th best time of 20.82 before punching his 60m ticket on Saturday with a 10th place 6.79 clocking.

Mekhi Stafford also clocked a 60m personal best time giving the Cougars a pair of national entrants with a 6.82 time in finishing second of the unseeded portion of the event entrants.

Already clocking the program's 4th fastest 1000m in his collegiate debut followed by a program 8th best mile run last weekend, Hamza Belkhalfi again put his name in the record book as week three's victim was the 800m by clocking the fifth fastest 1:51.13 time in placing 6th overall at the meet.

Joining Belkhalfi on the national entrant list in the event, Adrian Nethersole added his name with a personal best 1:52.79 time with Corlando Chambers bettering his previous time with an improved 1:53.88.

Barton heads north to Lincoln, Nebraska, for its next event beginning Friday for the two-day annual Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational.
*Update: Barton will not be attending the Husker Invite. The Cougars will instead compete at the Washburn Open and Multis beginning on Friday in Topeka, KS.

Complete New Mexico Team Open results

Barton Men's Results
60m: Aaron Charles (PB NQ 6.79), Mekhi Stafford (PB NQ 6.80), Jeramiah Martin (6.96)
200m: Aaron Charles (PB NQ 20.82), Wanyae Belle (21.73), Jermaine Thompson (22.19)
400m: Jaden Howell (PB NQ 48.15), Revon Williams (PB NQ 48.23), Marshae McDonald (50.18)
600m: Jasiah Clapp (1:22.51 *1st Time)
800m: Hamza Belkhalfi (NQ 1:51.13 *1st Time), Adrian Nethersole (PB NQ 1:52.79), Corlando Chambers (PB 1:53.88 *Already NQ)
Mile Run: Jasiah Clapp (4:48.36 *1st Time)
60m Hurdles: Jeramiah Martin (SB 8.07 *Already NQ), Bryce Southerland (8.08 *Already NQ)
Triple Jump: Kalil Murphy (SB 14.06m, 46-01.50)
Shot Put: Christopher Young (PB 18.67m, 61-03.00 *Already NQ **Program Record), Ricardo Hayles (PB 16.61m, 54-06.00 *Already NQ), Christopher Crawford (16.21m, 53-02.25 *Already NQ)
Weight Throw: Christopher Crawford (PB 17.86m, 58-07.25 *Already NQ), Christopher Young (17.14m, 56-03.00 *Already NQ), Boris Peranovic (PB 14.99m, 49.02.25)