By TODD MOORE
Barton Sports Info
The 7th ranked Barton Community College men's track and field team added four more national qualifiers this weekend as the Cougars competed in two events in two states.
On Friday in Austin, Texas, a small contingent of Cougars competed in the renowned Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, coming away with three national qualifying tickets.
Almond Small had a busy day of three events, individually competing in the 100m with a season best qualifying time of 10.38 to place 30th overall. Joining Aaron Charles, Elijah Mosley, and Revon Williams for the 4x100m relay, the tandem placed 23rd overall at 40.35. Small also joined up with Mosley and Williams, along with Fabian Campbell to again finish 23rd in the 4x400m relay in clocking a 3:09.97.
In Wichita at the Friends University Open, Christopher Crawford had a big meet of two personal best performances, namely in winning the discus throw with a toss of 57.41m (188-04) in marking the program's 3rd furthest. Fellow freshman Christopher Young took second with a personal best 53.16m (174-5) to just miss the program top-ten while program record holder Brandon Lloyd finished 10th with an off-day 43.35m (142-3) as each of the three are already qualified.
Crawford's other personal best came in the hammer throw as the lone Cougar entry, placing 6th overall with a 45.20m (148-4) mark.
Barton's fourth new national qualifier came in the 110m hurdles, Devoy Pinnock leading the field with a season best 14.34 as Jeramiah Martin finished 3rd at 14.73, just missing qualifying standards with a 14.64 prelim time.
All told on the weekend eleven of the Cougars performances were either the first time in an event or the first time of the outdoor season.
The Cougars return to Texas on Thursday to compete in the three-day Jo Meaker Classic and Multi hosted by West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas.