NORMAN, Okla – In one of the largest group of athletes coach Dave Schenek has taken to an outdoor meet this season the Barton Community College men’s track team responded.

The Cougars won three events at the John Jacobs Invitational at the University of Oklahoma and placed in the Top 10 17 times of out a possible 22.

Leading the way was the effort of Deron Gordon in the 400m hurdles where he ran the best time in the NJCAA this season. The Cougars were also impressive in winning the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

Gordon blistered the track in the 400m hurdles with a 50.9 to win the event.  That time edged Wichita State’s Jonathan Duvall who ran a 50.91. Barton’s Zodani Francois was third in the event with a 54.19 as Gordon and Duvall separated themselves from the rest of the field.

Gordon’s time moved him to the top of the NJCAA list – besting the time of Sir Paul Jones of Kansas City Kansas, who has ran a 51.82 – the previous best time.

Francois also ran in the 110m hurdles, taking second in 14.86.

The Cougars won the 4x400m in a time of 3:08.52 – also their best of the year – it kept them as the second best in the NJCAA behind South Plains (Texas) College’s 3:07.69. Gordon, Quick Stukes, Deandre Henderson, and Alex Richemond just edged Alabama out of the top spot. Alabama ran a 3:08.55.

Also winning was the 4x100m relay team. The Cougars quartet of Shadrack Adu-Gyamfi, Richemond, Mike Simmons and Henderson finished first in 40.58, beating Abilene Christian, Oklahoma and Wichita State.

In the individual sprints the best placing of the day was that of Stukes in the open 400m. Stukes took third in 46.77 – just missing second by .01. His time was by far his best of the outdoor season and is now the third best in the NJCAA. Micah Carey took ninth in the race with a time of 48.29.

Simmons was the top finisher in the 100m and 200m for the Cougars. Simmons was fifth in the 100m in a time of 10.71 while Adu-Gyamfi was 10th in 10.8.

In the 200m Simmons led a quartet of Cougars in the top 13. Simmons was ninth in 21.29. Anthony Adderly right behind in 10th in 21.35. Henderson ran 21.37 for 12th and Richemond 21.41 for 13th.

Barton also had good showings in the middle distance races with Sampson Laari and Elder Colindres earning places in the top six.

Laari was sixth in the 800mm with a time of 1:51.48 -- the fourth best time in the NJCAA this season. Tyler Thornton finished 17th in 1:57.26. Colindres was the runner-up in the 1500m with a 4:07.27.

The Cougars added a qualifier for the NJCAA meet in throws as Donald Daley earned a spot in the hammer throw. Daley was just shy of the mark in Cowley earlier this year when he missed by a single inch. Saturday in Norman, Daley easily made it with a throw of 166-9 – well ahead of the 158-5 mark needed. That throw got him eighth.

Daley was also the top finisher in the discus with a throw of 155-8.5. Romario Antoine was 12th with a 148-7. Both have already earned spots at the national meet. Alireza Rafiei was 15th with a 133-8.

Rafiei took eighth in the shot put at 53-2.25 while Colby Overturf was ninth in the javelin with a throw of 168-10.25. Both have also already met qualifying standards for the NJCAA meet.