Barton Community College Athletics was well represented Thursday evening in Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of the 2024 NJCAA Foundation Awards event.
A pioneer in women's track and field, Veronica Campbell Brown ('01-03) was inducted into the NJCAA Foundation Hall of Fame amongst five others while recent Barton graduate Myles Thompson received the 2024 Champion Award exemplifying his resilience, excellence, and passion as inspiration to overcome challenges.
2024 NJCAA Foundation Event Photos
Veronica Campbell Brown
Campbell Brown left her mark on Barton and the NJCAA as a 4-time national champion holding multiple national and meet records including to this day the 60m indoor and 200m outdoor all-time best.
Setting the 200m record at the NCAA level at the University of Arkansas, Campbell Brown turned professional and continued representing her native country Jamaica with a decorated and trailblazing career.
The first woman to win both the 100m and 200m at World Juniors, Campbell Brown also became the first Jamaican woman to win a sprint event gold medal at the Olympics in her debut year of 2004.
Inducted into the Barton Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, the 5-time Olympian compiled 21 World and/or Olympic medalist finishes before retiring from competition.
Away from the track, Campbell Brown has always been an ambassador to the sport and continues to give back in many ways including public speaking engagements and fitness instruction. A UNESCO Sport Ambassador, Campbell Brown also heads, along with fellow '03 Barton alum and husband Omar, the VCB Foundation created to offer mentorship and financial assistance to young women in Jamaica.
Veronica and Omar, an accomplished junior, collegiate, and professional track sprinter in his own right including helping Barton to its then 6th consecutive indoor and outdoor national titles, reside in Florida along with their two children.
Joining Campbell Brown into the 2024 Induction Class were former Hutchinson Community College coach Gene Keady, along with Artis Gilmore, Lin Laursen, Shawn Marion, and Gene Bess.
More regarding the inductees can be found at: https://njcaafoundation.com/general/2023-24/releases/20240312gsyclu
Myles Thompson
For Thompson, helping the Barton men's basketball team to the 2024 NJCAA Division I title this past March was a welcomed dream ending to what was an unknown and tough road back to the court.
Following a solid freshman season of over 7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, Thompson's basketball career and life stood in the balance following a mysterious illness entering his sophomore campaign.
Hospitalized for twenty days while doctors diagnosed to unveil a blood infection, surgery to his leg ensued leaving basketball a unknown possibility for the Hutchinson, Kansas, native.
Successful surgery left hope but a compromised immune system left the door open for other complications resulting in an additional three weeks of bed rest.
As his muscular frame lost twenty pounds throughout the ordeal, once cleared with the help of four different antibiotics and physical therapy, Thompson began his comeback vigorously and religiously.
A gym rat by nature, the lifestyle along with his faith and support from family and friends led Thompson back to the court and return for his sophomore '23-24 season capped by the College's 60th national title.
Thompson not only fought off the doubts but picked himself up to grind back bigger and stronger to chase his passion and dreams.
Averaging 14 points and 6.7 rebounds, Thompson closed out his Barton career with a 27 point and 13 rebound performance in the title game coincidentally held in his hometown for his 7th double-double of the year in being named to the All-Tournament team. More regarding Thompson's story and Champion Award found at: https://www.njcaa.org/general/2023-24/releases/20240603lvpncz
Thompson and teammate Ring Malith now set their sights on the NCAA Division I level as both have signed at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.