Barton's Williamson and Young earn National Athletes of the Week honors #GoBarton

Jazmine Williamson and Christopher Young of the Barton Community College track and field program have been named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Outdoor Women and Men's National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Athletes of the Week.

Williamson piled up 26 points across three events for the now nation's top ranked women's team leading the Cougars to its 33rd Region VI title and 32nd KJCCC West Division crown.

Also named the Championships' Women's Field Athlete of the Meet on Saturday, Williamson began her trek on Friday in the long jump by riding the wind-aided runway with two marks over 21-feet including launching a program 2nd best ever mark of 6.50m (21-04.50) that ranks 5th all-time on the outdoor list.

On Saturday the sophomore finished runner-up in her other two events, posting another personal best in the triple jump (11.96m, 39-03.00) before winding up in the high jump at 1.68m (5-06.00).

Earning the men's High Point Athlete of the Meet for the 5th ranked Cougars, Young piled up 36 points competing in four events across two days helping Barton to the Region VI runner-up placing.

Young began with ten points by winning the initial throwing event of the javelin with a 58.59m (192-02) mark.

Teammate Ricardo Hayles put Young in the runner-up spot of the discus as the freshman bolted four spots on the program all-time chart to 2nd all-time with a 60.83m (199-07) as Young marked a 59.93m (196-07) to remain 3rd on Barton's best list. Hayles would later be named the men's Field Athlete of the Meet joining Young's High Point award. The duo's personal best efforts land No. 7 and No. 10 on the NJCAA's all-time chart.

On Saturday Young would again earn a runner-up finish in the shot put (17.68m, 58-00.25) with Hayles coming fourth at (16.49m, 54-01.25) then concluded busy two days by winning the hammer with a season best 55.32m (181-06) effort as freshman Boris Peranovic marked a personal best 50.46m (165-06) to punch his event ticket at nationals.

Williamson's award becomes the Barton women's 11th USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week award and the fourth this season as Cedricka Williams won the honor three times this year. Other award winners include: Kelsie Murrell-Ross (2022), Nia Robinson (once each in 2022 and 2021), Lashanna Graham (2021), Yoveinny Mota (twice in 2019) and Lydia Mato (2015).

Young's honor is the 10th National Athlete of the Week award for the Cougars granted by the USTFCCCA joining Brandon Lloyd (2022), Shakwon Coke (twice in 2021), Alencar Pereira (three times in 2019), Christian Lyon (2018), Enrique Martinez (2018) and Deron Gordon (2015).

Story contribution credits to USTFCCCA found at www.ustfccca.org