The Barton Community College women's track and field team crowned a national champion Friday as the Cougars are in fifth place after day one of the NJCAA Indoor National Championships held at the Plaster Center on the campus of Pitt State University.
Barton accumulated 23 points at the conclusion of opening day, eleven points out of second place and well behind Iowa Western's leading 58 points.
Freshman Kelsie Murrell-Ross was the lone Barton women National Champion in the first of two days of competition, taking the shot put title in bettering her program 5th best mark with a 15.21m (49-11.00) throw to also become the second straight Cougar to win the event's gold after Ana Da Silva won it last year. Teammate Jada Sewell placed 6th with a 12.86m (42-02.25) throw.
The Cougars challenged for the long jump title, defending champion Nia Robinson putting a personal best 6.19m (20-03.75) mark on the board in her first jump to better her program 7th best mark. The mark would stand into the fourth of sixth jumps in being overtaken by Joniar Thomas of South Plains. Thomas would better her fourth attempt on her last jump, soaring to 6.32m to solidify the title.
A pleasant surprise to the day was in the pentathlon as Deborah Lowe placed 7th overall with 3171 points in earning Barton two team points in the day's opening event. Not expected to score coming into the event, Lowe had personal bests in each of the five events, capping her performances leading throughout the 800m race until the last second in settling for a second place.
Action resumes at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
Barton Women's Day One Results
Pentathlon: 7th Deborah Lowe (PB 3171 points) – Set personal bests in all five events: 60m Hurdles (9.20), High Jump (1.37m), Shot Put 9.00m), Long Jump (5.25m), and 800m (2:27.16)
60m Hurdles (Prelims): 9th Ashantae Harvey (8.86 - misses finals by .02), 15th Ashanti Harvey (9.13)
600m (Prelims): 3rd Kayan Green (PB 1:34.13), 4th Lashanna Graham (PB 1:34.36)
400m (Prelims): 3rd Ashantae Harvey (55.85), 13th Naiya Morgan (57.78)
1000m (Prelims): 3rd Kayan Green (3:01.28)
Shot Put: NATIONAL CHAMPION Kelsie Murrell-Ross (PB 15.21m; 49-11.00 *Betters her 5th best program history; Top NJCAA mark this year), 6th Jada Sewell (12.86m, 42-2.25), 14th Efe Latham (11.30m, 37-1.00)
Long Jump: National Runner-Up Nia Robinson (PB 6.19m; 20-3.75 *Betters her 7th best program history; 2nd best NJCAA mark this year), 10th Brittania Ingram (PB 5.59m), 11th Ida Seesay (5.52m)