Cougars exceed expectations for national 7th place finish; Hamer defends triple jump crown #GoBarton

Predicted ninth, the Barton Community College men's track and field team outperformed expectations this past weekend in Lubbock, Texas, earning a 7th place finish at the NJCAA Indoor Championships held at Texas Tech University's Sports Performance Center.

Seven of the Cougars' 15 national meet entries scored points towards the squads' 36 total in leading all fellow Region 6 squads at the indoor conclusion event.

Overall the Cougars posted 13 season or personal best performances with four making etchings on the program all-time top ten lists.

Headlining the outcomes was Trevon Hamer's 24-point individual accumulation, placing second in Friday's long jump on a program 6th best then on Saturday essentially competed in consecutive events placing 3rd in the 60m dash at 6.67 after clocking a program 5th fastest 6.64 in preliminaries. Following a brief recovery, Hamer set the tone on his second round jump in defending his national indoor triple jump title with a program 5th best farthest mark of 16.47m (54-0.50).

Barton's other program record book impact came in Friday's shot put as Ricardo Hayles marked a 5th place 17.29m (56-08.75) shot put throw to slide into the No. 10 all-time best.

Additional personal bests were: Simeon Adams (47.50) and Devonric Mack (48.85) in the 400m, Boris Peranovic (15.77m, 51-9.00) in the weight throw, Wanyae Belle with a pair of bests in the 60m (6.727) and 200m (21.21) as did Aragorn Straker (6.728) and (21.08).

The Cougars also posted season bests in its two relay squads. The 4x800m tandem Adams, Corlando Chambers, Keandro Gordon, and Jasiah Clapp placed 8th overall in 7:49.45. Concluding the meet with four points in the 4x400m relay, the baton passing of Mack, Joshua Mascall, Belle, and Adams set the team's best at 3:12.13.

Following a couple of weeks of rest and training, the Cougars begin the outdoor season in Fort Worth, Texas, competing in the TCU Alumni Invite March 21-22.

Barton's National Indoor Championship Results (PR/PB = Personal record/best)
Long Jump: 2nd Trevon Hamer (PB 7.75m, 25-5.25 *Program 6th Best)
Shot Put: 5th Ricardo Hayles (PB 17.29m, 56-8.75 *Program 10th Best), DNP Jaylon Calder (Fouls)
400m: 12th Simeon Adams (PB 47.50), 26th Devonric Mack (PB 48.85), 33rd Joshua Mascall (49.60 *1st time this season in event)
Weight Throw: 11th Boris Peranovic (PB 15.77m, 51-9.00)
Triple Jump: CHAMPION Trevon Hamer (PB 16.47m, 54-0.50 *Program 5th Best)
4X800m Relay: 8th SB 7:49.45 (Simeon Adams, Corlando Chambers, Keandro Gordon, Jasiah Clapp)
60m: 3rd Trevon Hamer (6.67 *PB 6.64 in prelims for Program 5th Best); 11th Wanyae Belle (PB 6.727), 12th Aragorn Straker (PB 6.728)
200m: 5th Aragorn Straker (21.24 *PB 21.08 in prelims); 14th Wanyae Belle (PB 21.21)
4x400m Relay: 6th SB 3:12.13 (Devonric Mack, Joshua Mascall, Wanyae Belle, Simeon Adams)