Competing in the four-year college dominated Tyson Invitational held at the University of Arkansas this weekend, the 5th ranked Barton Community College men's track and field team left Fayetteville recording ten personal and season bests, and a pair of program historical achievements.
The meet served as the final tune-up for post-season as the Cougars travel to Pittsburg, Kansas, next weekend for the KJCCC/Region VI Indoor Championships held Saturday and Sunday.
Theo Leveque earned the first of the program impact feats on Friday, moving up the historical 3000m chart from 10th into the 5th slot by clocking an 8:31.85 to better his previous best by seven seconds.
A battle all season between the three-man throwing group didn't disappoint in the two-day meet with four personal bests, highlighted by Christopher Crawford's program 7th best shot put throw of 17.82m (58-05.75). Fellow freshman Christopher Young, who leads the nation with an 18.07m mark, placed 3rd in the event with a 17.80m (58-04.75), as Brandon Lloyd placed 8th on a 16.53m (54-02.75) mark. Nationally, Lloyd's 17.87m best ranks 3rd while Crawford is right behind in the 4th slot.
In Friday's weight throw, the each of the trio had a personal best, Lloyd placing 11th in exceeding his by nearly two feet at 17.56m (57-07.50), Crawford's 13th placing added two inches to his previous best to mark 16.35m (53-07.75), with Young launching 2.5 inches further to place 15th at 15.68m (51-05.50). The trio rank 3rd, 10th, and 14th on the current national leaderboard.
Leading the nation's top ranked 60m hurdle squad, Jeramiah Martin moved up one spot to 4th on the leaderboard behind a personal best 8.00 second clocking. Timing an 8.075 in the qualifying round, Martin advanced to the prelims in becoming the lone two-year competitor in the final sixteen. Daqwon Wilson jumped eight up eight spots on the leaderboard to 6th from his Friday performance in the qualifying round, clocking an 8.080 in coming up .005 shy of replacing Martin in the right to advance to the prelims.
Aaron Charles and recent University of Texas signee Almond Small also posted bests in the 200m, Charles moving three spots into 8th nationally behind a 21.19 while Small continues his season improvement in clocking a 21.64.
Also making a move up the national charts, Fabian Campbell's personal 800m best of 1:52.86 gained two slots on the list in placing 19th overall on Saturday.
Barton's Tyson Invitational Results (Complete Results) (PR/PB = Personal record/best; NQ = Nationally Qualified; ANQ = Already Nationally Qualified)
60m Qualifying: 21st Almond Small (6.83 *ANQ), 35th Aaron Charles (6.96 *ANQ)
60m H Prelims: 13th Jeramiah Martin (PB 8.00 - Ran 8.075 in qualifying round; Only 2-yr runner in final top 16 *ANQ), 9th (in qualifying) Daqwon Wilson (PB 8.080 *Just missed qualifying **ANQ)
200m: 14th Aaron Charles (PB 21.19 *ANQ), 30th Almond Small (SB 21.64 *ANQ)
400m: 25th Elijah Mosley (47.46 *ANQ)
800m: 19th Fabian Campbell (PB 1:52.86 *ANQ)
3000m: 18th Theo Leveque (PB 8:31.85 *Moves up from 10th to 5th on program all-time list **ANQ)
Long Jump: 18th Jalen McGee (6.78m, 22-03.00 *ANQ)
Weight Throw: 11th Brandon Lloyd (PB 17.56m, 57-07.50 *ANQ), 13th Christopher Crawford (PB 16.35m, 53-07.75 *ANQ), 15th Christopher Young (PB 15.68m, 51-05.50 *ANQ)
Shot Put: 2nd Christopher Crawford (PB 17.82m, 58-05.75 *Program 7th Best **ANQ), 3rd Christopher Young (17.80m, 58-04.75 *ANQ), 8th Brandon Lloyd (16.53m, 54-02.75 *ANQ) **Record Book Standings: 4th Young (18.07m), 6th Lloyd (17.87m), 7th Crawford (17.82m)