2014-15 Barton Men's Cross Country News

Season
Another step forward for Barton Men’s Cross Country, Cougars place 15th nationally
Another step forward for Barton Men’s Cross Country, Cougars place 15th nationally

Taking another step towards program respectability, the Barton Community College men’s cross country team completed the season Saturday placing 15th in the nation at the 2014 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championship in Lubbock, Texas. Held at the Shadow Hills Golf Course, the No. 22 ranked Cougars placed fourth out of fellow Region VI teams after coming in 6th two weeks ago at the region championship. Barton completed the 8k race in a combined 2:17:57 to average 27:35.40 as three Cougars placed amongst the nation’s best 100 runners.

Cougar cross country 6th at nationally packed Region VI Championships, Laari second in close finish
Cougar cross country 6th at nationally packed Region VI Championships, Laari second in close finish

Trailing four nationally ranked teams, the Barton Community College men’s cross country team came in 6th at the highly competitive Region VI Championships today held at the Colby Country Club. Averaging 27:26.10 per mile, Barton’s total time of 2:17:10.51 beat out another nationally ranked team No. 14 ranked Pratt Community College as the Cougars also placed 4th in the rugged Jayhawk West Division.

Barton Cross Country competes at prestigious Chile Pepper Festival
Barton Cross Country competes at prestigious Chile Pepper Festival

Taking on some of the best cross country competition in the nation, members of the Barton Community College teams competed this past Saturday at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival hosted by the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Lady Cougars had three entries in the 5k race while the Cougar men also just entered three in the 8k event as the teams competed against runners from over 80 colleges at all Division levels.

Men’s Cross Country places 10th at Woody Greeno Invite
Men’s Cross Country places 10th at Woody Greeno Invite

Facing tough four-year college competition and two of the best junior college teams in the nation, the No. 17 ranked Barton Community College men's cross country team finished 10th this past Saturday in the college division of the Woody Greeno Invitational co-hosted by the University of Nebraska and Nebraska Wesleyan University. The Cougars completed the 8k race amongst 173 other competitors in an average time of 30:09.70 per mile for a team total of 2:30:48.50.

Nationally ranked Barton Cross Country teams head to Nebraska for Woody Greeno Invite
Nationally ranked Barton Cross Country teams head to Nebraska for Woody Greeno Invite

The Barton Community College cross country teams will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, for Saturday's Woody Greeno Invitational co-hosted by the University of Nebraska and Nebraska Wesleyan University. The No. 24 ranked Lady Cougars will take to the 6k course at Pioneers Park beginning at 10:00 a.m. while the No. 17 Cougar men will start their 8k race at 10:45 a.m.

Laari and Brotherton lead No. 8 Cougars to J.K. Gold Classic 6th place finish
Laari and Brotherton lead No. 8 Cougars to J.K. Gold Classic 6th place finish

The Barton Community College men's cross country team finished 6th overall Saturday in the small college division of the 66th Annual JK Gold Classic held in Augusta, Kansas. With 129 total competitors in the 6k race, the No. 8 ranked Cougars took home first and second individual performances while finishing third among fellow NJCAA competitors in a total time of 1:41.52.

No. 8 Cougars look for strong showing at J.K. Gold Classic
No. 8 Cougars look for strong showing at J.K. Gold Classic

Just like the women's team, the Barton Community College men's cross country team will compete at their first meet in recent memory as a national ranked team as the Cougars travel to Augusta, Kansas, on Saturday to compete at the 66th Annual J.K. Gold Classic hosted by Wichita State University. With both the men and women entering the first NJCAA Division I poll of the season released recently, the No. 8 ranked Cougars will be competing for the first time in two weeks after placing two runners in the top four at the Kings Sandwich Classic in Iola, Kansas.

The Cougars get some sprint workouts done during last Monday's practice held at the Cougar Track/Soccer Complex.
Laari breaks record as Cougars begin 2014 season

The Barton Community College men's cross country team began the 2014 season on Friday at the Kings Sandwich Classic in Iola, Kansas. Hosted by Allen Community College, the group of first-year runners for the Cougars left with a course record performance and placed two in the top four.

Coach Cowles gets the Cougars started during Monday's practice held at the Cougar Track/Soccer Complex.
Barton Cross Country team set to begin 2014 season

The Barton Community College men's cross country team begins the 2014 season on Friday at the Kings Sandwich Classic in Iola, Kansas. Hosted by Allen Community College, the Cougars have one returner and a team of talented first-year runners primed to make their collegiate debut.