Former track star and United States record holder Tyson Gay headlines a class of three new inductees to the Barton Sports Hall of Fame.
Gay will be inducted Saturday along with former track and field coach Randy Cole and basketball player Clair Oleen.
The induction ceremony will take place Saturday at 2 pm in the Kirkman Activities Center. The inductees will also be recognized between basketball games that night as Barton host Coffeyville.
Gay is the 100m US record holder with a time of 9.69. That ties him for the second fastest behind Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, who ran a 9.58. Yohan Blake of Jamaica also has a 6.69. Gay has the sixth fastest 200m time ever with a 19.58.
Gay joins former teammates Veronica Campbell, Leevan Sands and Hyleas Fountain from Barton’s loaded 2002 team as members of the Hall of Fame. A highlight of professional career came in 2007 when he won gold in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m at the World Championships in Okasa.
Cole coached the Barton track and field team from 1985-97. He was the head cross country coach all 12 years while taking over as the head coach for track and field in 1991 as well. His teams won four NJCAA cross country titles, seven indoor track and field titles and eight outdoor national championships.
Cole went on to coach at Kansas State and Wyoming after leaving Barton and is now the cross country coach at Lindenwood.
Oleen still holds the Barton school record for rebounds in a contest with 25, set back in 1974. Oleen played for Bethany after graduating from Barton, earning All KCAC honors and All District 10 honors.
Oleen went on to a legendary coach career at Bethany College, retiring last season after 38 years. He spent two of those as an assistant, 12 as the women’s coach and the final 24 as the men’s coach. He amassed 541 wins between the two programs with the Swedes.
Admission to the ceremony is free.