By TODD MOORE
Barton Sports Info
The 2nd ranked Barton Community College women's track and field team won five events over three days resulting in a runner-up placing at the 2025 Region 6 Outdoor Championships held at Coffeyville's Veterans Memorial Stadium.
For the second straight year, the Cougars won the meet's opening event before adding four more golds as part of their 17 scoring performances in compiling a solid second place total of 122 points. Cloud County captured nine events in winning the team crown with 197 points as Hutchinson finished in third on 95 points.
Adding three new qualifiers to its list, Barton will have over thirty entries for the season finale NJCAA Division I Championships held May 15-17 at Hutchinson's Gowans Stadium.
Cedricka Williams accounted for 22 of the Cougars' points in being named the Field Athlete of the Meet, the second consecutive year the program has won the award.
Williams fell short of breaking her national record discus mark for the third straight meet but still set a facility record of 52.99m, 173-10 leading a Barton 1-2-3 finish in the event. Ivanilda Semedo, who already owns the program's second furthest throw, placed runner-up at 49.19m (161-04) with Zadie Mackey in third at 43.42m (142-05).
The sophomore standout was also one of three new qualifying performances for the squad, competing in the javelin for the first time, staking a third place 39.66m (130-01) qualifying mark. Joining Mackey as already qualified in the hammer throw as well, Williams added another six points for the squad by placing third at 47.73m (156-0) with Mackey in the fifth spot at 45.07m (147-1).
Winning six of the seven heptathlon events, Alexia Walker won the program's second straight multi-event Region title in accumulating a program 10th most 4814 points for a 394 point victory. The freshman posted four personal best efforts along the way including a national qualifying long jump mark, won the 200m leg of the two-day competition in her first time running the distance, then capped off her title with a two second cushion in the final 800m run.
Two days later, Walker also competed in the 400m hurdles for the first time by punching another national qualifying ticket in finishing fifth at 1:05.10.
An additional pair of Barton's titles came in the hurdle events, Natasha Fox winning the 400m version in 1:00.82 as Kialia Claiborne's 1:03.49 time finished fourth ahead of Walker.
On the 100m track, Asharria Ulett clocked a 13.68 in the hurdle prelims with an even better personal best 13.66 for Region champion honors while in the straight sprint, Keliza Smith's 11.46 placed third as six of the eight placers set a facility record. Making just her first start in the event of her sophomore season in the day's prior preliminary round, Smith blazed the track in 11.25 to improve her program's 5th fastest all-time clocking. Kayda Austin qualified for finals on a 11.75 time but sat out for the final round with Kennidra Spigner's 11.98 finishing 13th.
The speed trio also competed in the 200m, Smith's 23.75 and Austin's 23.93 qualifying for but sitting out the final round with Kennidra Spigner in the 16th spot at 24.95.
Barton's other gold came in Saturday's triple jump as freshman Celine Riddle followed her indoor title with the outdoor crown at 11.99m (39-04.00) after failing to post a mark a day prior in the long jump to defend her indoor championship.
Both of Barton's relays came up shy in their respective races, the 4x100m crew of Smith, Austin, Ulett, and Spigner just .03secs out of the top spot at 46.06 as the 4x400m crew of Narissa McPherson, Shone Walters, Claiborne, and Fox were one of two teams breaking the facility record in settling for second pace on a 3:44.23 time.
Barton Women's Results: (PB = Personal record/best; NQ = Nationally Qualified; ANQ = Already Nationally Qualified)
Heptathlon: CHAMPION Alexia Walker (4814 Points *10th Program Most Points)
1st - 100m Hurdles (PB 14.98)
1st - High jump (PB 1.66m, 5-05.25)
1st - Shot Put (PB 9.67m, 31-08.75)
1st - 200m (25.68 *1st time running the event)
1st - Long Jump (PB NQ 6.01m, 19-08.75)
5th - Javelin Throw (21.70m, 71-02)
1st - 800m (2:32.93)
100m: 3rd Keliza Smith (NQ 11.46 *11.25 in Prelims **Improves Program 5th fastest time set last year ***1st time in event this year), DNS Kayda Austin (ANQ *11.75 in Prelims to qualify for Finals), 13th Kennidra Spigner (11.98). Note: Top Six runners broke facility record
100m Hurdles: CHAMPION Asharria Ulett (PB ANQ 13.66)
200m: DNS Keliza Smith (ANQ *23.75 in Prelims), DNS Kayda Austin (ANQ *23.93 in Prelims) **Both qualified for Finals; 16th Kennidra Spigner (ANQ 24.95)
400m: 5th Narissa McPherson (56.97), 8th Shone Walters (57.39)
400m Hurdles: CHAMPION Natasha Fox (ANQ 1:00.81), 4th Kialia Claiborne (ANQ 1:03.49), 5th Alexia Walker (NQ 1:05.10 *1st Time in event)
4x100m Relay: Runner-Up (46.06) Keliza Smith, Kayda Austin, Asharria Ulett, Kennidra Spigner
4x400m Relay: Runner-Up (3:44.23 *Both top 2 teams set facility records) Narissa McPherson, Shone Walters, Kialia Claiborne, Natasha Fox
Discus: CHAMPION Cedricka Williams (ANQ 52.99m, 173-10 *Facility Record), Runner-Up Ivanilda Semedo (ANQ 49.19m, 161-04), 3rd Zadie Mackey (ANQ 43.42m, 142-05)
Hammer Throw: 3rd Cedricka Williams (47.73m, 156-0), 5th Zadie Mackey (45.07m, 147-1)
Javelin: 3rd Cedricka Williams (NQ 39.66m, 130-01 *1st Time in event)
Long Jump: DNP Celine Riddle (ANQ Foul), DNS Chloe Perryman (ANQ)
Triple Jump: CHAMPION Celine Riddle (ANQ 11.99m, 39-04.00)
Shot Put: 3rd Zadie Mackey (PB 12.39m, 40-07.75), DNP Cedricka Williams (ANQ Foul)