Personal bests and fifteen national qualifying performances highlight trip to Pittsburg for the Barton track and field program #GoBarton

Another meet in the books and another host of improving performances this week for the Barton Community College track and field program as the Cougars competed at the KJCCC/Region VI Invitational on Sunday at Pittsburg State University's Robert W. Plaster Center.

Having the ability to enter a majority of its squads into the meet, Barton came away with nearly thirty personal bests, just shy of fifteen season bests, fifteen national qualifying performances including nine additional new qualifiers, and had a top-ten program performance.

The Cougars will take a week away from competition before returning to Pittsburg for the Triton Kansas Challenge held Sunday, February 14.

Women's Highlights:
Annia Ashley continued her standing as one of the top jumpers in the NJCAA, winning both the long jump and high jump, soaring to the top spot on the long jump at 5.74m (18-10) while still sitting at the top of the high jump chart at 1.66m (5-5.25).

Beginning in the throw events, Ana da Silva won the shot put with a season best and national second ranking throw of 14.62m (47-11.75) after placing third in the weight throw with a 15.77m (51-9) mark. Jada Sewell set personal bests in both events, jumping into third on the national shot put leaderboard with a third place mark of 12.43m (40-9.5), after placing seventh in the weight throw with a best of 12.76m (41-10).

Shemia Odaine, who placed third in the long jump (5.46m, 17-11) to rank seventh, punched her ticket in the 60m with a 7.77 to finish sixth in the finals with a 7.83 behind Taneka Ballard's person best 7.80 clocking.

Ayesha Nelson moved up to No. 2 on the 60m hurdles, placing second on the day with a personal best 8.71 as Ashanti Harvey came in fourth at 9.09.

Lashanna Graham led a 3-6 Barton finish in the 400m, clocking a nation's seventh slot and personal best 58.11 time with Dayjsha Fanning crossing in sixth with a personal best 1:00.91.

Kayan Green's first attempt at the 800m proved fruitful as the freshman popped into the nation's top spot with a 2:14.28.

Men's Highlights:
Fabio Hessling led a four-pack of the No. 1 ranked Barton weight throwers, winning the 18-man field event with a program fifth best and nation leading 18.97m (62-3) mark. Tyler Nelson placed seventh on a season best 13.95m (45-9) mark with Jeremiah Atkeson marking a personal best 13.92m (45-8). Not having his best weight throw performance of 12.38m (40-7) to place 14th, Giovanni Gutierrez made up for it in the shot put launching a personal best 15.43m (50-7.5) to place fourth and qualify for nationals with a current fifth best overall mark.

Almighty Williamson also added his name to the Cougars' national qualifying list, clocking a personal and nation's sixth best 60m hurdle time of 8.13. Williamson was just shy of his best in the finals, clocking an 8.19 to place fourth overall in the event.

Gamali Felix' season best 400m punched his national ticket, placing second in 48.76 while Telron Bradford Jr.'s personal best effort finished fourth in 49.29.

Tyrese Reid continues to shine in the indoor season and once again came up hundreds of a second short in landing on the program's top ten all-time leaderboard. Missing by just .04 seconds in the 600y his last meet, Sunday Reid fell just .41 seconds from the 800m list in punching his national ticket with a nation's leading and personal best clocking of 1:52.62.

Although not qualifying but a symbol of the Cougars' improvement each meet, Ethan Woodrome put out a pair of personal best efforts in the longer events. Shaving fifty-five seconds off his mile time in clocking a 5:15.05, Woodrome took off another fifteen seconds later in the day on his 3000m race placing eighth at 10:50.74.

Already the top ranked 4x400m team of the early season, the Cougars improved their top time by 2.5 seconds as the tandem of Jevon O'Bryant, Ja'Kwan Hale, Tyrese Reid, and Gamali Felix won the event by nearly four seconds at 3:14.00.