Memorable day for Barton Cross Country in Cowles’ last meet

Capturing a team championship is always a thrill for any athlete, capturing two in one day is double the pleasure.  On any normal championship day the excitement can reverberate throughout the day, the week, and in some cases will last a lifetime.

It wasn't a national championship, a conference championship, or even a large nationally competitive meet, but for the Barton Community College cross country teams, Saturday's Terry Masterson Invitational held at Hutchinson's Westar/Prairie Ridge Park was a sort of milestone and perhaps something future memory will recall.  

It was a dual championship Saturday where both the women and men's teams surpassed the field to capture team titles.  The Cougars saw individual champions in sophomores Lydia Mato and Sampson Laari continuing their dominance and rewriting Barton history.  The day also gave a preview of what may come in hopes of a Region VI title and a run at a national championship, not to mention the exposure of depth and emergence of rising freshmen.  

The Cougars were also privileged to run in a race renamed because of a local legend, transpiring from the "Romp at the Ridge" to being called the "Terry Masterson Invitational".  Running in a race named for a man who put the host Hutchinson Community College cross country teams in the national spotlight many times.

As the race began with Terry Masterson himself pulling the trigger to start the romp, the Cougars began the mission.  The charge to send out a man to future endeavors on a high note and a sense of thank you for a job well done.

Three years ago Barton cross country was pretty much non-existent with the exception of handfuls of individuals dedicated to the sport and representing the Cougar uniform.  Saturday, the Cougars were back on top capturing both a men's and women's meet title for the first time since 2002.

Team titles are just that, a collaborative effort of team members where each individual performs at a personal best for the betterment of the team.  And behind each team is a leader, a coach, a mentor, and one who organizes a group of individuals to come together as one.

For the past three years the leader has been Parker Cowles and since his hire, the Barton cross country teams have been recruited, organized, trained, and led to experience the joys of what Saturday's twin victory brought.   

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." – Jimmy Valvano, 1993 ESPY Awards

Barton experienced that "heck of a day" with joyful moments, running a race with thoughtful planning and strategy, and yes, having moments of tears.

In an unexpected occurrence of events just two weeks ago, the meaning behind Saturday's 'full day' changed as the Cougars said good-bye to their head coach with a going away gift any coach would enjoy from his team.

"He has to do what he has to do," Laari said in an interview with Kyle McCaskey of the Hutchinson News. "I wish him good luck wherever he goes. I think he's a good coach, and I love him very much."

A former collegiate athlete graduating from the Air Force Academy in 2009, Cowles received the call too good to refuse, the opportunity to return to his alma mater and coach at the NCAA Division I level.  Beginning Monday, Cowles sheds the Cougar blue being replaced by the Falcon blue to become Director of Operations and Assistant Coach for the track and cross country teams.

"I am excited to go, but at the same time, it's hard to leave a program I built," Cowles said to McCaskey.

For those around the Cougar programs, it was no surprise Cowles received the 'call up' to a higher competitive level.  After all, Cowles took a program from the relative dust of its past four national championships and leaves it on solid ground for potential regional championships along with being a major player on the national stage.

Pausing in his interview with McCaskey, Cowles reflected on the day.  

"Two years ago when I got here, it wasn't much of a program. It's a small meet, but two wins today, it feels pretty special."

Arriving to Barton in October 2013 following three years as an assistant at Idaho State University, Cowles didn't even have a complete women's team but began the process of building.  In his second year and first full season as coach coming last season, the Lady Cougars finished sixth in the conference, eighth in Region VI, and finished 27th in the nation.  It was the best season for the Lady Cougars since 2003 when Barton finished second in the region on the way to a fifth place national finish. 

The job was just as daunting on the men's side as the Cougars hadn't fielded a complete team since its 2003 fifth place national team.  Although Barton was fielding a team in Cowles' inaugural season which finished sixth in the conference and twelfth in the region, there was more work to be done.  Last season Cowles' Cougars improved the showing placing fourth in conference, sixth in Region VI, and went on to place 15th nationally.

"Parker was a great addition to the Barton Track and Field Family," said Barton Head Track and Field Coach David Schenek.  "We are excited to see this opportunity for him at his alma mater.  He did an excellent job in returning this cross country program to its talented roots.  We wish Coach Cowles the best of luck in his immediate and distant future."

The victory Saturday was perhaps a glimpse of what may be come for Barton cross country teams in the 2015 season.  With returning national champion Lydia Mato leading the pack, the Lady Cougars proved they will be a force with seasoned sophomores Holly Pierce, Kaitlynn Tuey, and Julee McAtee and the rising stock of freshman in Asha Douglas, Mariah Stein, LeAndra Russell, and Emilykate Hopson-Boyd.   Similarly, the Cougars feature the returning standout Sampson Laari teamed with solid returning sophomores Elder Colindres, Marcus Pastran, Anthony Forrest, and Tyler Thornton along with the talented and upcoming group of freshmen D'Corian Williams, Morgan Feemster, Treavon Ware, and Robert Portice.

Barton may yet to be at the level of the previous teams of the '90's and early 2000's, but as Cowles and his wife Emily and son Kirby leave Great Bend for the base of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the mission to rebuild the cross country programs has been left on solid ground and towards greatness once again.

"Coach Cowles has done an outstanding job of leading our cross country program over the last three seasons," said Barton Athletic Director Trevor Rolfs.  "He has gained tremendous respect amongst his peers and brought Barton Cross Country back to the top of the Jayhawk Conference."

With Cowles' departure, the immediate search for a replacement is ongoing with Track and Field Head Coach David Schenek and Assistant Coach Tony Davis assuming the reigns.  Following consecutive race weekends, the Cougars will be away from competition for the next three weeks until an October 3rd trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the Chili Pepper Festival. 

For more regarding Cowles and the Cougars victory, visit The Hutchinson News

For photos visit the Barton Cross Country photo collection.