HUTCHINSON – Winning the Region VI Championships was not going to be an easy task for the Barton women’s track and field team.
The Cougars were the favorites, but the top of the field was very crowded as five teams were ranked in the Top 10 in the nation.
But it was Barton, ranked No. 5 in the nation, capturing the title in fairly easy fashion. Barton won the meet at Gowans Stadium in Hutchinson with 173 points to 142 for Butler. Cloud County and Cowley tied for third at 99.
The Cougars took home six gold medals – five individuals and one relay gold.
Amanda Carty was nearly a double gold winner, winning the long jump and taking second the triple jump. Carty won the long jump with a leap of 19-11 then took second in the triple at 39-1.
Fiona Barnes was a couple spots behind her in both events, placing third in the long jump at 18-10.75 and fourth in the triple jump at 37-8.75.
Barnes did win a gold of her own, capturing the heptathlon with a total of 4090 points.
Also in the field, Latavia Maines won the shot put with an effort of 49-5.75. Shyledeen Smith was second in the discus at 143-9 and Kameliah Style third in the hammer with a heave of 152-7.
On the track, Barton nearly swept the hurdles races. Mahendra McWhite won gold in the 100m hurdles in a time of 13.97, well ahead of runner-up Olivian Jackson, who ran a 14.61.
Jackson got her gold in the 400m hurdles, winning in 1:01.67.
Keosho Sanders was Barton’s only sprint winner, taking first in the 100m with a time of 11.53. Deborah Gifford was fifth in 11.98.
Nijah Roberson took third in the 200m with a time of 24.53 with McWhite placing fourth in 24.69.
In the 400m, Latoya Steward was third in 55.45 with Roberson fourth in 56.42 and Azan Sargusingh fifth in 57.45.
Cadeebra Calcote took third in the 800m in 2:19.09 and Mirena Goncalves, just back to competing two weeks ago after and injury during the cross country season, was second in the 10,000m in 41:05.49. Goncalves is now qualified in the 5000m and 10,000m for the NJCAA Championships. She has run just two times since returning, earning qualifying times in both.
Barton won the 4x400m relay as Stewart, Sargusingh, Roberson, and Calcote won the final event of the day in 3:45.94.
Roberson, Sanders, Rashan Darling, and McWhite were second in the 4x100m in 46.29. The 4x800m team of Sargusingh, Calcote, Stewart, and Goncalves also took second in 9:32.42.
Barton’s nest event will be the NJCAA Championships. Those will take place May 17-19 in El Dorado.

Region VI Team Scores
Barton 173, Butler 142, Cowley 99, Cloud 99, Coffeyville 85, Hutchinson 61, Highland 56, Dodge 39, Colby 39, Garden 20, Pratt 17, Allen 10, Johnson 9, Neosho 1, Hesston 1.