Behind eleven personal or season bests Saturday at the Rock Chalk Classic in Lawrence, the 3rd ranked Barton Community College men's track and field team added a pair of new national qualifiers and made two edits on its storied program all-time top ten lists.
The additions bring the Cougars' total to 25 performances qualified for the national meet as Barton will first set its sight on the Region VI Championships taking place May 4-6 in Coffeyville.
A pair of freshmen highlighted the day's performances, one capping the Cougars' last event on Saturday in the 800m Invitational as Fabian Campbell gave a run for the title in a photo-finish .24 seconds for the runner-up position. Already nationally qualified in the event, Campbell's personal best vaulted into the 5th fastest time in program history and ranks 7th currently on the NJCAA's season list.
Already leading the nation in the javelin, Christopher Young bettered his previous mark by over 18 inches to move up a slot on the program best chart to No. 3 in winning the event at 66.98m.
Both of the Cougars' new national qualifiers came in the sprints as Aaron Charles led Barton's three personal best performances in the 100m clocking a winning 10.53 time. Malachi Carter placed 4th on his personal fastest 10.68 with Marlon Wordlow's best of 10.90 placing 15th.
Almond Small edged out teammate Jayden Singleton for 4th in the 200m, clocking a 21.17 while Singleton's personal fastest time registered a 21.18 in punching his national entry ticket. Wordlow also posted another best time of 21.97 to cross in 20th with Malachi Carter finishing in 28th at 22.56.
Matching their women teammates with the Rock Chalk Classic 4x100m relay title in a season best time, the tandem of Elijah Mosley, Charles, Small, and Revon Williams moved up two spots on the national season list to 4th fastest at 40.20 seconds.
In addition to Young and the baton passers' Classic title, Christopher Crawford led Barton's three discus qualifiers with a 55.80m to win the event.
Fifth on the shot put program list, Brandon Lloyd led the throwing groups' 3-4-5 finish in the metal ball heave with a season best 18.06m with Young next at 17.51m and Crawford at 17.22m.
Barton Results:
Javelin: 1st Christopher Young (66.98m *Moves up program chart from 4th to 3rd all-time **Already Nationally Qualified)
Discus: 1st Christopher Crawford (55.80m), 10th Brandon Lloyd (50.57m), 12th Christopher Young (48.79m) *Each already Nationally Qualified
Shot Put: 3rd Brandon Lloyd (SB 18.06m), 4th Christopher Young (17.51m), 5th Christopher Crawford (17.22m) *Each Already Nationally Qualified
Long Jump: 3rd Jalen McGee (7.10m *Already NQ)
4x100m Relay: 1st 40.20 *Season Best, Already NQ (Elijah Mosley, Aaron Charles, Almond Small, Revon Williams)
400m: 5th Revon Williams (47.63 *Already NQ), 19th Manjot Singh (PB 49.41)
110m Hurdles: 3rd Jalen McGee (14.39 *Already NQ), 5th Jeramiah Martin (14.62), 9th Jayden Singleton (PB 14.95)
100m: 1st Aaron Charles (PB 10.53 *New National Qualifier), 4th Malachi Carter (PB 10.68), 15th Marlon Wordlow (PB 10.90)
200: 4th Almond Small (21.17 *Already NQ), 5th Jayden Singleton (PB 21.18 *New National Qualifier), 20th Marlon Wordlow (PB 21.97), 28th Malachi Carter (22.56)
800m Invitational: 2nd Fabian Campbell (PB 1:49.45 *Already NQ **Program 5th best all-time)