Getting their first taste of collegiate competition, eight of the Barton Community College women's track and field team opened the indoor season this past weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska at the Holiday Inn Invitational held on the campus of the University of Nebraska.  

Lydia Mato made the best of her Lady Cougar debut immediately jumping into the Barton record books, crossing the finish line in the 5000 meter run in a national qualifying time of 18:06.98.  Mato's time is the third best in Barton history and the first time since 1999 a Lady Cougar has eclipsed the twenty minute mark.

In the sprints, two freshmen competed in the 200 meters.  Annette Gaskins and Ambria Avery competed in different heat but finished with identical 27.10 times to finish in 34th and 35th place respectively.  Avery also competed in the 400 meters finishing in 34th place in 1:02.85 while Kiana Winston finished in 25th place clocking in at 1:00.12.

The Lady Cougars had two compete in the mid-distance events as Tabitha Kim finished 24th in the 1 mile run at 6:16.94 but Modesty Lorick was unable to finish her 600 meter run.

N'Kia Jones 15th place finish with a leap of 35-10 ¾ (10.94) in the Triple Jump highlighted the performances off the track for five Lady Cougar freshman competing in the field events.  Gaskins, Tahje Ochs, and Lahni Clifton all missed their marks on the Long Jump as was the case for Elizabeth Evans in the Shot Put.

The Lady Cougars return to action on Friday as Barton will compete in the one-day Jayhawk Classic hosted by the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas.