The 5th ranked Barton Community College women's track and field team added five additional national qualifying performances this past weekend in Fayetteville, Arkansas, competing in the Tyson Invitational held at the University of Arkansas.

In addition to the qualifying performances, Barton posted seven personal or season best results competing as the lone two-year college among the field of twenty four-year school teams, including the No. 1 and No. 4 ranked team with four others ranked within the nation's Top-25, and scattered amounts of professional athletes who have claimed Olympic and World Championship medals.

Headlining the performance was the blistering time recorded by the 4x400m relay team of Ashantae Harvey (55.07 split), Naiya Morgan (55.41), Jayda Dillon (56.10), and Lashanna Graham (55.94). The tandem won their heat three seconds in front of the University of Missouri finishing 7th overall against the tough field. More impressively was their 3:42.52 time to rank 7th best in program history as the nation's leader of baton handlers have over a four second best time than their nearest NJCAA competitors.

Also improving a national standing, Nia Robinson rose to a 1.67m (5-05.75) high jump height for a season best. A three event qualifier adding in the triple and long jump events, Robinson led a trio of Cougars in Friday's long jump in placing 20th with a 5.76m (18-10.75) leap. Joining Robinson as a national qualifier in posting personal bests were Ida Seesay (5.60m (18-04.50) and Brittania Ingram (5.53m (18-01.75)

All three of Barton 400m entries reached national qualifying times led by Harvey's 55.26 in placing 31st. Morgan (56.89) and Graham (57.95) clocked personal best times in punching their national ticket in placing 41st and 44th overall respectively.

The thrower group has already qualified for nationals as Efe Latham placed 8th in the weight throw (14.71m, 48-03.25), with Kelsie Murrell-Ross (14.84m, 48-08.25) and Jada Sewell (13.00m, 42-08.00) placing 5th and 9th respectively in the shot put.

Jayda Dillon continues her improvement seeking a berth in the 200m, clocking a personal best 25.44 as Ashanti Harvey's personal 60m hurdle best of 9.10 came just .01 seconds from reaching qualifying time.

The Cougars now enter post-season action, beginning Saturday, February 19, at the two-day KJCCC/Region VI Indoor Championships held at Pittsburg State University's Robert W. Plaster Center.

Barton now has 12 individuals in 19 events qualified for the NJCAA Indoor Nationals held March 4-5 in a return trip to Pittsburg.

Complete Barton Results
60m H Qualifying Rd: 18th Ashanti Harvey (PB 9.10 *.01 from NQ standards)
200m: 52nd Jayda Dillon (PB 25.44)
400m: 31st Ashantae Harvey (NQ 55.26), 41st Naiya Morgan (PB/NQ 56.89), 44th Lashanna Graham (NQ 57.95)
4x400m Relay Women: 7th 3:42.52 (Ashantae Harvey, Naiya Morgan, Jayda Dillon, Lashanna Graham (SB *Improves Nation leading NQ time **7th All-Time Best)
Long Jump: 20th Nia Robinson (5.76m, 18-10.75), 27th Ida Seesay (PB, NQ 5.60m, 18-4.50), 29th Brittania Ingram (PB, NQ, 5.53m, 18-01.75)
High Jump - Women: 8th Nia Robinson (SB 1.67m, 5-05.75 *Improves Nationally Qualified Height to 4th best)
Weight Throw: 8th Efe Latham (14.71m, 48-03.25) *already Nationally Qualified
Shot Put: *Both already NQ 5th Kelsie Murrell-Ross (14.84m, 48-08.25), 9th Jada Sewell (13.00m, 42-08.00)