EMPORIA— A small contingent of the Barton Community College women’s track made their way to Emporia State University for a rare midweek event.
It was an opportunity for some athletes to gain some experience, improve on their personal bests and perhaps post an NJCAA qualifying mark at the Emporia Midweek Open.

While there were no qualifying marks posted several PR’s were set for the Cougar women.

The highest finish of the meet came in the 3000m steeplechase where Yazmin Rendon ran the event for the first time. The Dodge City sophomore finished fifth with a time of 16:02.21.

The middle distance races saw three personal bests set. Katelyn Tuey and Holly Pierce each set PR’s in the 1500m with Tuey taking 13th and Pierce 14th. Tuey, a freshman from Great Bend ran a 5:20.97 and Pierce finished with a 5:22.4.

Julee McAtee ran her fastest 800m during her career at Barton as the Central Plains graduate finished 14th in 2:37.49.

Danashka Lawrence was the only other Cougar to compete on the track. The freshman from Hutchinson ran the 100m and 200m during the afternoon. She took 9th in the 200m in 26.52 and 10th in the 100m in 12.73.

In the field, Bethany Bowman continued to use every opportunity possible get repetitions. The sophomore started late after the basketball season ended for Barton. The sophomore was back in her hometown of Emporia to place 11th in the high jump at 4-9.5.

Nicole Kruse rounded out the Cougars efforts in Emporia, taking 15th in the javelin with a throw of 111-9.25.

Next up for the Cougars will be the Region VI meet in El Dorado April 30-May 2. Barton will look to improve on its third place finish last year in a very competitive region that has seven teams ranked in the Top 25. The Cougars are currently ranked 7th in the nation – two spots behind Coffeyville.

Cowley College and Cloud County are just outside the Top 10 ranked 11th and 12th. Butler and Johnson County are both Top 20 schools at 18 and 19 while Hutchinson is ranked 22nd.