Mission completed, Barton men’s cross country team takes Masterson Classic

Watching their women counterparts complete the first part of Saturday's mission, the Barton Community College men's cross country team rose to the challenge in capturing the Terry Masterson Classic.  Placing four Cougars in the top ten, Barton averaged 26:56.9 over the 8k Westar/Prairie Ridge Park Course in Hutchinson, Kansas, distancing the competition by an average of twenty-one seconds.

Following his first place finish a week ago at the 67th Annual J.K. Gold Classic, Sampson Laari blew the competition away Saturday by over forty-five seconds breaking the winner's tape at 26:56.9.  Freshman D'Corian Williams, who did not compete at the opening meet, made an impressive Cougar debut placing fourth in 28:04.3.   

Sophomore Elder Colindres continued his strong start to the season clocking a 28:36.2 sixth place finish and four spots ahead of freshman Morgan Feemster's 29:10.6.

Bested by teammate Anthony Forrest in the season's first race, Tyler Thornton got the best of Forrest on Saturday finishing in 23rd place at 30:15.5 while Forrest finished 43rd in 32:15.8.  Treavon Ware, who along with Williams made their debut Saturday, finished 49th at 33:00.1 while fellow freshman Robert Portice placed 58th at 35:37.0. 

The Barton men completed the mission to send Head Coach Parker Cowles to his next adventure on a high note.   Cowles, an Air Force Academy graduate, recently accepted a position at his alma mater and coached his last meet as a Cougar.  It will give Barton three weeks to prepare as the Cougars will next compete October 3rd at the Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  

Complete individual and team results can be found here.