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.  

"Like the women's side, we're very young," said second year Head Coach Parker Cowles.  "And like the women, the guys have the talent to also be competitive at both the Region VI and national level."

Similar to Lydia Mato on the women's side, the Cougars welcome to the cross country side of distance running a veteran track athlete Sampson Laari.  Leading the mid-distance runners for the Cougars in the 2014 track season, the Ghana native earned a fourth place finish in the 800 Meter Run and grabbed a seventh place finish in the 1000 Meter Run at the national indoor championships.

"Sampson has the ability and drive to be one of the best runners in the nation this year," Cowles said.  "Not only is he an exceptional athlete but the experience and leadership skills he brings to the team are invaluable."

The lone cross country experience returning for the Cougar men is sophomore Brady Holler of Little River, joined by fellow Kansan sophomores Kole Steiner of Great Bend and Marcus Pastran of Abilene who compete in their first year of competition.

"The freshman class is really going to have to step up for us to be competitive," reported Cowles.  "Even with the inexperience, I am really excited about this group!"

Freshman on the Cougar squad include Elder Colindres of Dodge City, Kansas, as well as out of state athletes Devyn Brotherton from Cody, Wyoming, Antonio Perez of Guyer, Texas, and the Baltimore, Maryland, duo of Darrius Salmond and Tyler Thornton.

The women's two-mile race will begin at 7:00 p.m. followed by the men's 5k race at 7:20 p.m. on the Allen Community College Campus.