Four champions highlight 5th ranked Barton women’s split squad weekend #GoBarton

The fifth ranked Barton Community College women's track and field team competed this past weekend in Texas and New Mexico, with most of the squad competing in the Don Kirby Tailwind Collegiate Open in Albuquerque, New Mexico, while the throwers competed at the 7th Annual West Texas A&M Classic and Multis held in Canyon, Texas.

The Cougars piled up over thirteen personal best performances in New Mexico and a near school record in Texas, coming away from the weekend with 20 Top-8 placings including four champions.

Coming off being named the KJCCC Athlete of the Week in marking the then-fifth best shot put mark in school history in her outdoor debut, Latavia Maines won the Classic in Texas hitting 15.72m (51-07.00). The NJCAA's second best throw this season, Maines' mark ranks second best in program history trailing the 15.99m (52-05.50) record of Cassandra Lee in the 2003 season.

Three of Barton's first place finishes came in New Mexico with two on the track. Short track sprinter Keosha Sanders led the effort in setting a new personal record for the Florida sophomore winning the 100m in 11.62 for the second fastest time in the nation. Three other Lady Cougars also set new personal times as Deborah Giffard's 12.01 time finished fourth, in sixth place was Rashan Darling's 12.14, while in 12th place was the first time competing in the event Zuri Straker's 12.41.

Being joined by Nijah Roberson for the 4x100m relay, the trio of Sanders, Giffard, and Straker beat the field with the NJCAA's third best time this season with a 46.28 clocking.

Barton's third champion came in the throws as Shyledeen Smith captured the discus with a personal best and 8th best national mark of 43.33m (142-02) while Alexis James placed third at 36.75m (120-07).

The duo of Amanda Carty and Fiona Barnes collected four top-four finishes in the jumps with Carty earning two runner-up placings. Carty sprang to a personal best and nation's third best long jump mark of 6.05m (19-10-25) before resetting her personal best in the triple jump at 12.10m (39-08.50) for the seventh best national mark. Barnes also nearly had two new personal marks, missing her best in the long jump by .01m to record a 5.99m (19-08.00) for third place before her best effort in the triple jump grabbed a fourth place 11.96m (39-03.00) in ranking 8th in the nation.

Included in the many all-around solid weekend performances were the hurdle crew of Mahendra McWhite and Olivian Jackson in each finishing third in the 100m and 400m variety. White, who is ranked 3rd in the NJCAA 100m hurdles, placed third in the Open at 14.09 with Jackson recording a personal best 14.63 in finishing ninth with the 7th best time in the nation. Jackson set another PR in the 400m hurdles clocking a 1:01.88 for a third placing and third best time in the NJCAA while McWhite, who is ranked sixth nationally, clocked a 1:10.13 in finishing ninth.

The Lady Cougars' next meet is much closer to home as Barton travels to Wichita on Friday for the two day KT Woodman Classic at Cessna Stadium.

Complete Barton Women Results

7th Annual West Texas A&M Classic and Multis:
Shot Put – CHAMPION Latavia Maines (15.72m, 51-07.00, *2nd best NJCAA)

Don Kirby Tailwind Collegiate Open:
Discus Throw - CHAMPION Shyledeen Smith (PB 43.33m, 142-02, 8th NJCAA); 3rd Place Alexis James (36.75m, 120-07)
Long Jump - 2nd Amanda Carty (PB 6.05m, 19-10.25 *3rd best NJCAA), 3rd Fiona Barnes (5.99m, 19-08.00, Missed PB by .01, is ranked 4th NJCAA)
Triple Jump - 2nd Amanda Carty (PB 12.10m, 39-08.50, 7th best NJCAA), 4th Fiona Barnes (PB 11.96m, 39-03.00, 8th best NJCAA)
4x100 Relay - CHAMPIONS in season best 46.28 *46.40 converted for 3rd best NJCAA (Keosha Sanders, Deborah Giffard, Nijah Roberson, & Zuri Straker)
100m - CHAMPION Keosha Sanders (PR 11.62 *11.65 Converted, 2nd best NJCAA), 4th Deborah Giffard (PR 12.01/12.04, 16th best NJCAA), 6th Rashan Darling (PR 12.14), 12th Zuri Straker (12.41 *1st time in event)
100m H - 3rd Mahendra McWhite 14.09 (Ranked 3rd NJCAA), 9th Olivian Jackson PB 14.63 (7th best NJCAA)
400m H - 3rd Olivian Jackson (PR 1:01.88, Converted to 1:01.99, 3rd best NJCAA), 9th Mahendra McWhite (1:10.13, ranked 6th in NJCAA)
200m - 3rd Nijah Roberson (24.97), 7th Keosha Sanders (25.33), 8th Rashan Darling (PR 25.46), 10th Zuri Straker (25.52 *1st time in event), 11th Azan Sargusingh (25.57 *1st time in event), 15th Tia Steward (SB 26.17), 18th Deborah Giffard (26.77 1st time in event)
400m - 7th Azan Sargusingh 58.31, 9th Tia Steward 59.23
800m - 6th Cadeebra Calcote (PR 2:17.55 - Converted 2:16.73, 3rd best NJCAA), 9th Latoya Stewart (2:26.66 *1st time in event)