More records broken by Cougar women
A phenomenal indoor season continued this weekend for the Barton County Community College track and field team in Arkansas. The Cougars competed in the Tyson Invitational, held in Fayetteville, Arkansas at the University of Arkansas, and walked away with three more NJCAA national records in addition to a school record. Veronica Campbell also re-established herself atop the 200m dash in the world for women once again.

The Cougars left Arkansas with Campbell’s NJCAA record-setting effort in the 200m (the best in the world to date), a 4x400m NJCAA national record,

as well as topping a previous mark already held in the weight throw. The school record in the 400m also fell.

Highlights
Women
After running the fastest 60m dash in women’s collegiate history as well as the fastest 60m in the world this the Cougars last meet two weeks ago, Veronica Campbell put her name back on top the world list in the 200m with a time of 22.63. She had the best time earlier this year, but that had fallen to 6th prior to this weekend. Her 22.63 bested her school record set last year in 23.12. It also set a new NJCAA Indoor record as well as bettering a 22.76 held by France’s Muriel Hurtis. The time by Hurtis led the world last week but is now 3rd, however, as United States sprinter Michelle Collins ran a 22.64 at the Tyson Invitational as well. Campbell ran her time Friday in the open race. Collins ran her time in the invitational race on Saturday. Campbell now owns the fastest 60m and 200m indoor times in the world this year.

The Cougars 4x400m relay team didn’t quite make it to the top of the world rankings, but will have to settle for No. 2 in the world so far, as well as shattering the school and NJCAA Indoor record. The quartet of Patricia Hall, LaShauntea Moore, Campbell and Kareen Gayle ran a time of 3:32.3, placing second in the invitational race on Saturday. The winner was the University of Texas, which now owns the fastest time in the world at 3:30.2. The old Barton County record, set last, year was 3:39.84. The time is even 5 seconds faster than the Cougars outdoor record, despite more turns on the shorter indoor track.

The third NJCAA record-setting effort was Ariel Brooks bettering her own mark she had set earlier this year. Brooks won the weight throw with a toss of 63-8.25. Her old mark was 62-0.5 in the Cougars last meet two weeks ago in Norman, Okla.

Gayle also put her name in the Barton County record book, running a 53.51 in the event to take 6th at the high-profile meet. That broke the old school record of 54.11 held by Juliet Campbell since 1990.

In addition to the record-setting efforts, Barton County had several other good efforts. A limited team went to one of the toughest meets of the year and all placed well. Aneita Denton captured the 800m in a time of 2:11.09. Andrea Austin was 8th in the race. Shayna Staton also competed in the 800m. Moore, in addition to her leg on the 4x400m, took 5th in the 200m in a Top 35 world time of 23.65 as well as placing 8th in the 60m in 7.45.

Kwonya Ferguson took 6th in the high jump at 5-7. She also competed in the triple jump, which was won by former Cougar standout Suzette Lee, now jumping professionally. Kasia Williams and Doria Appleberry each ran sprints and hurdles, Jane Borer and, Erica Alston, and Donesha Spivey jumped at the meet and Brandy Blackwood threw the weight.

Coach Lashley Comments on women’s team -- This was a great meet for us. Anytime you can break three NJCAA records and a school record it makes for a good drive home. We got a couple of girls back from the missing in Aneita Denton and Kasia Williams. We should be getting some more back before the Region VI meet this weekend. We are coming together as a team just when we need to be.

Men
The lone winner for the men at the premier meet was the Cougars 4x400m relay team, winning the open event in 3:11.76, besting Rice and Mississippi. The Cougars also had several Top10 efforts with Roderick Dotts leading the way, taking 3rd in the 800m unseeded event in 1:51.44.

The Cougars had a good 200m race, putting two runners in the Top 10. Steven Mullings took 5th in 20.88, less than .20 off the school record set by Bernard Williams in 1999. Omar Brown returned for the Cougars to take 7th in 21.02.

Garland Porter continued his good indoor season with a 5th place throw in the weight throw and a 7th place toss in the shot put. Jake Raines took 7th in the in men’s unseeded mile and Kedar Inico was 9th in the 400m. Jamoiy Bryant was 10th in the triple jump, topping the 50-foot mark.

Dexter Faulk, Danny Johnson and Sherown Williams also ran sprints for the Cougars while Presley Cherubin ran middle distance.

Coach Lashley Comments on men’s team -- The men ran very, very well. It was nice to get Omar Brown back and running like used to. That should be very good for his confidence. Everyone did really well and we had some people qualify for nationals that hadn’t yet qualified. After seeing what the women did this weekend, it is easy to overlook what a good meet the guys had.

Results
For full results check out the Barton County website at www.bartonccc.edu/sports

Next
Barton County will travel to Region VI meet this Sunday in Manhattan at Ahearn Fieldhouse. The field events will start at 10 a.m. with the running events slated to start at Noon.

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Check out Barton County Track Online at www.bartonccc.edu/sports