The Barton Community College women's cross country team got their season underway Saturday participating in the 67th Annual J.K. Gold Classic held in Augusta, Kansas.  With a total of 101 competitors, the Lady Cougars competed against NCAA Division I, small college, and other NJCAA competitors taking second in the college/university division.  Barton averaged 16:26 per person at the R.A.F.T. Course covering the 4k race in a team total of 1:22.06 and just thirty seven seconds from the top spot.  

Defending NJCAA National Champion Lydia Mato finished fourth overall sandwiched between six Wichita State University runners.  Mato averaged 5:53.9 per mile finishing the course in 14:39.6 and nearly a minute faster than her nearest NJCAA competitor.  

Florida freshman Asha Douglas had a quality Cougar debut finishing third amongst fellow Region VI competitors finishing 18th overall in 15:50.5.  Holly Pierce was the third Lady Cougar athlete to finish coming in almost a minute faster than last years' time with a forty spot improvement clocking 16:29.1 for 32nd place overall and thirteenth in the division.  

Great Bend's Mariah Stein came in 52nd and 28th respectively with a 17:22.8 in her freshman debut while Kaitlynn Tuey was nine spots back and 35th in the division at 17:43.7.  Rounding out the Barton runners was freshman LeAndra Russell in 84th and 51st in the division at 19:03.3, Julee McAtee 87th and 53rd in 19:23.1, and freshman Emilykate Hopson-Boyd one spot behind at 19:30.1.

Barton finished second only to Friends University in the division race and ahead of fellow Region VI competitors Butler Community College (4th), Pratt Community College (6th), Hutchinson Community College (8th), Cloud County Community College (9th), and Cowley College (10th).

The Lady Cougars will return to competition next Saturday with a trip to Hutchinson in the Romp at the Ridge.