By TODD MOORE
Barton Sports Info
Cedricka Williams and Trevon Hamer of the Barton Community College track and field program headlined post-season outdoor awards distributed by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Williams was named both the Central Region and National Field Athlete of the Year following a record breaking discus season including resetting her own mark twice at the recent NJCAA Division I Outdoor Championships in Hutchinson.
The national honor is the second straight outdoor distinction for the program as Treneese Hamilton was tabbed the best field athlete of the year last season. Williams is the third Cougar during the 2025 season named the national field athlete of the year, joining jumpers Celine Riddle and Trevon Hamer who each earned the indoor award.
Hamer was named Central Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year following a 31-point performance at the KJCCC/Region 6 Championships including winning both the long and triple jump competitions before capping the meet as a member of the Cougars' 4x400m relay team.
Williams began her National Championships on day one with a personal best hammer throw of 52.79m (173-02) in moving up from the 10th spot to 4th furthest throw in program history.
Two days later, Williams was back in the ring, immediately putting a halt on the discus competition bringing out event officials after launching a national record breaking throw of 60.23m (197-07). Originally setting the nation's top mark as a freshman including the meet record, Williams fouled on her next attempt before unleashing a three feet further throw resetting the national top mark of 61.07m (200-04).
The celebration victory of breaking the record for the 8th time was short lived as Williams was rushed to another venue, was back on the runway within thirty-minutes before capping her Barton career competing in the javelin for just the second time ever to place 10th (36.73m, 120-06) of the 18-competitor field.
Williams' earned the Central Region honor following the conclusion of the KJCCC/Region 6 Championships in Coffeyville. Additionally named the Field Athlete of the Meet, Williams came up short of breaking her national discus record for the then-third straight meet but did break the facility record in leading a Barton 1-2-3 finish in the event. Williams would also punch a national qualifying mark in her javelin debut.
As a squad at the national meet, the women challenged for the title as the program as a whole combined for 23 scoring performances, 4 gold medals, 21 personal or season bests, and 7 modifications of the program record book.
The women's final finish was its second consecutive runner-up placing for its 8th straight year within the Top-5 while the men's 8th placing marked the 9th straight season among the Top-8.