Barton Cross Country Teams set for Nationals

The Barton Community College cross country teams wrap up the season this Saturday at the 2014 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championship in Lubbock, Texas.  Held at the Shadow Hills Golf Course, the championship meet is slated to begin at 10:00 a.m. for the women's 5K race, followed by the men's 8k at 11:00 a.m. 

The meet will feature approximately thirty men's and women's teams from around the nation including seven ranked men's teams and six ranked women's teams from Region VI alone.   Joining the No. 21 Cougar men will be fellow region teams No. 5 Colby Community College, No. 6 Allen Community College, No. 12 Hutchinson Community College, No. 14 Highland Community College, No. 15 Butler Community College, and No. 20 Pratt Community College.  The women's region entries includes No. 5 Butler, No. 8 Dodge City Community College, No. 16 Hutchinson, No. 17 Pratt, No. 20 Johnson County Community College, and No. 23 Garden City Community College.

On the men's side, Sampson Laari looks to follow up his Region VI runner up finish with another strong performance in Texas.  His 8k time of 24:44 currently ranks as the 9th fastest time in the nation.  The Cougars placed 6th at the highly competitive Region VI Championships two weeks ago held at the Colby Country Club averaging 27:26.10 per mile. Barton's total time of 2:17:10.51 beat out another nationally ranked team No. 14 ranked Pratt as the Cougars also placed 4th in the rugged Jayhawk West Division.

After winning the Region VI individual title Lydia Mato looks to win Barton's first individual national cross country title since Evette Turner in 1995.  Mato posted the nation's second fastest 5k time (17:14) this year at the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas, but figures to be challenged by Iowa Central sophomore, Viola Kebenei.  The pair have met twice this year swapping victories at the Woody Greeno/University of Nebraska Invitational and the Chile Pepper Festival.

The Lady Cougars finished 8th as a team at a very tough Region VI Championships two weeks ago held at the Colby Country Club.   Barton's finish was also good for 6th in the rugged Jayhawk West division as the Cougars finished the 5k race in 1:46:03 for an average of 21:12.60. 

Barton's entry list are comprised of:

Men:

Devyn Brotherton, FR, Cody, Wyoming
Elder Colindres, FR, Dodge City, Kansas
Brady Holler, SO, McPherson, Kansas
Sampson Laari, FR, Kumasi, Ghana
Marcus Pastran, FR, Abilene, Kansas
Tony Perez, FR, Denton, Texas
Darrius Salmond, FR, Baltimore, Maryland
Kole Stiner, FR, Great Bend, Kansas
Tyler Thornton, FR, Baltimore, Maryland

Women:

Trenna Cox, FR, Smith Center, Kansas
Lydia Mato, FR, Accra, Ghana
Julee McAtee, FR, Bushton, Kansas
Holly Pierce, FR, Woodlands, Texas
Yazmin Rendon, FR, Dodge City, Kansas
Kaitlynn Tuey, FR, Great Bend, Kansas