Murrell-Ross and Robinson highlight Barton women's track and field performances at nationally tough Red Raider Open #GoBarton
Murrell-Ross and Robinson highlight Barton women’s track and field performances at nationally tough Red Raider Open.
The Barton Community College women's track and field team added three more national qualifying performances to the early season success list and posted a pair of program top ten performances competing Friday at the Texas Tech Red Raider Open held in Lubbock, Texas.
Taking on a nationally packed field of NCAA and NJCAA heavy weights, the Cougars' day haul also included five personal bests as the young squad also put ten first-event competitors to the test.
As the sun set in the west, two Cougars etched their name in program history with solid performances.
Nia Robinson, the defending NJCAA indoor long jump champion, made the most of her first time jumping this season as on her fifth attempt of the day marked a 6.17m (20-03.00) splash in the sand for the program's 7th farthest in history. Placing second to Texas Tech's Monae Nichols' 6.66m (21-10.25) in the Open, the distance is currently NJCAA second best to outdoor national champion Joniar Thomas of South Plains College at 6.21m (20-04.50).
Kelsie Murrell-Ross also had a monumental day as the second meet of the season for the freshman produced a shot put mark of 15.04m (49-04.25) to rank 5th all-time on the program's list. Bettering her previous national leading 13.86m collegiate debut from last week, Murrell-Ross finished behind a trio NCAA athletes Friday for fourth overall in the twenty-two competitor field.
The Cougars' next meet is in Topeka, Kansas, for the two-day Washburn Open and Multis beginning on Friday, January 28, at the Washburn Indoor Athletic Facility.
Other National Qualifying Performances:
Kayan Green: 5th in 600 Yard Run (1:24.12) *Converts to 600m time of 1:34.22, ranking 2nd nationally
Lashanna Graham: 11th in 800 Meter Run (2:38.88) *Converts to 2:23.47, ranking 4th nationally
Complete 2022 Red Raider Open results