Moudani breaks program record and Coke defends title leading Barton men to 4th place national track and field indoor finish #GoBarton

Three program records of the storied Barton Community College men's track and field team were impacted this past weekend as the Cougars placed fourth overall at the 2021 NJCAA Indoor Championships held at the Robert W. Plaster Center in Pittsburg, Kansas.

The Cougars had thirteen scoring performances in the two-day meet, compiling 87 points in falling 4.5 points of the hardware earned by Cloud County. South Plains College took the top spot with 138 points to easily out-distant Iowa Central's 93 points.

Fred Moudani won the first of three Barton individual titles on championship Saturday, rewriting the program shot put record by ten inches by marking a 18.64m (61-02) heave to move Sanjae Lawrence's 18.39m (60-04) to the second slot on the chart. Giovanni Gutierrez earned the fifth placing on the day with a mark of 15.91m (52-02.50)

Shakwon Coke experienced the highs and lows of taking on the nation's best, repeating as national champion in the long jump but having his second title of the weekend escape him by one inch. Already landing in a program 5th best jump last year to win the '20 indoor title, Coke was just ¾ of an inch shy of his best on Friday but the 7.76m (25-05.50) was still good enough to defend his title. Returning to the runway on Saturday, Coke led the final three rounds of the triple jump with a 15.52m (50-11.00) splash until Coffeyville's Henry Kiner soared an inch further in the title hope heart breaker.

Barton's third championship came in the 400m as the nation's top rated squad didn't disappoint in placing first, fourth, and sixth to compile eighteen points in the event. Leading the trio of Cougars was Gamali Felix, winning the edge to the tape by .08 seconds with a 4th best time of 46.63 in Barton history. Ja'Kwan Hale, who owns the 5th best program time, placed 4th in the event at 47.16 while Jevon O'Bryant was an eye-blink behind in sixth at 47.63.

The trio, joined by Caleb Boger, helped send the Cougars and their four-plus hour bus trip home on a good note as the tandem won the day's final 4x400m relay event in a program 7th fastest time of 3:09.84.

Boger, the reigning program 200m record holder and '20 indoor champion, didn't quite reach his blazing 20.68 best but did clock a national runner-up 21.18 as Denzel Feagin took third in 21.43.

Tyrese Reid nearly gave the Barton program a sweep in 800m as Kayan Green took the women's race moments prior, but instead had to settle for national runner-up by .33 of a second in clocking a 1:52.46, just .43 seconds off his program 8th best time in the event.

Complete Barton Men Results:
Weight Throw: 3rd Fabio Hessling (17.85m, 58-06), 8th Fred Moudani (16.27m, 53-04), 13th Tyler Nelson (14.40, 47-3)
Shot Put: SCHOOL RECORD - National Runner-up Fred Moudani (PB 18.64m, 61-02.00), 5th Giovanni Gutierrez (15.91m, 52-02.50); 16th Fabio Hessling (13.84m, 45-05.00)
Long Jump: REPEAT NATIONAL CHAMPION Shakwon Coke (7.76m, 25-05.50), 10th Glenith Calvin III (6.86m, 22-06.25)
Triple Jump: National Runner-Up - Shakwon Coke (15.52m, 50-11.00)
60m Hurdles: 9th Almighty Williamson (8.23)
60m: 9th Karon Dean (6.79), 19th Caleb Boger (6.90), 21st Ali Moore (6.90)
200m: National Runner-Up Caleb Boger (21.18), 3rd Denzel Feagin (21.43)
400m: NATIONAL CHAMPION Gamali Felix (PB 46.63, *Ties 4th best program history), 4th Ja'Kwan Hale (47.16), 6th Jevon O'Bryant (47.63)
600m: 15th Telron Bradford Jr. (1:29.92)
800m: National Runner-up Tyrese Reid (1:52.46)
Men's 4x400m Relay: NATIONAL CHAMPION 3:09.84 (*7th fastest time in program history; Jevon O'Bryant, Ja'Kwan Hale, Caleb Boger, Gamali Felix)