Running just their first meet of the season, the Barton Community College cross country team competed Saturday at the 7th annual Fort Hays State University Tiger Open. Braving the chilly and partially muddy Sand Plum Nature Trail in Victoria, Kansas, the Cougars competed in the 5K Black race with partial squads unable to compete for team standings.

Leading the women's four entries in the 113 runner field was sophomore Cadeebra Calcote with a time of 21:10.4 to place 43rd overall.

Shanique Masters led Barton's three freshman with a 65th place finish at 21:46.0 while Kieora Nichols (26:30.4) and Maurina Prieto (27:47.8) placed 109th and 111th respectively.

175 entries lined the men's field with Tallan James crossing first out of the three Cougars' entries in a 72nd placing in 27:52.4. Fellow sophomore Nathan Hood clocked a 29:46.6 time for 127th place with freshman Shadrack Korir coming in 151st at 31:26.6.

Barton will have a couple of weeks before getting back on the competitive course as the Cougars will next compete at the Region VI Championships held October 27th in Winfield, Kansas.