It has been more than 10 years since the Barton men’s cross country finished in the top three and team brought home a plaque from the Region VI meet.
In fact, 2003 was the last time it happened.
The Cougars put an end to that Saturday in Overland Park as they took third as a team led by Sampson Laari who captured the individual title. Laari is the first region champion since Jake Raines turned the feat in 2004.
Allen County, ranked No. 6 in the nation, won the event with a team total of 31. Butler, ranked No. 8, was a close second with 42. The Cougars tallied 108 points for their third place effort, edging out Hutchinson with 114.
Laari won the race with a time of 25:33.9 to win the race in a battle with Pedro Montoya of Allen County. Montoya, a sophomore from Ellinwood High School, finished with a time of 25:37.0 over the 8K course.
Another sophomore, Elders Colindres from Dodge City, was the next Cougar to finish, placing 20th in 27:21.3.
A pair of freshman followed the sophomores across the finish line for Barton. D’Corian Williams was the third runner to finish for the Cougars, taking 24th overall with a 27:34.2 and Morgan Feemster, also from Ellinwood, was 41st in 28:40.1.
A trio of sophomores completed the Cougars’ team during the meet. Marcus Pastran was 45th in 28:45.0 for the final scoring spot for the Cougars. Devyn Brotherton finished 58th in 29:53.3 and Tyler Thornton 62nd in 29:42.8.
The Cougars ran three more individuals in the event. Treavon Ware ran a 31:13.5, Anthony Forrest a 31:39.3 and Robert Portice a 32:02.9. Ware finished 89th, Forrest 94th, and Portice 96th.
The Cougars will head to Fort Dodge, Iowa for the NJCAA Championships Nov. 14.