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Mato, Douglas leads Barton women to title in Hutch
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BCC women win title at Hutch meet. - photo by Barton Sports Information

HUTCHINSON – It was a dominate day for the Barton Community College women’s cross country team. Not only did superstar Lydia Mato win the Terry Masterson Classic in Hutchinson, her teammate Asha Douglas came in right behind her for a 1-2 finish.

Those two led five Barton runners earning Top 20 finishes as Barton won the 5K event with a team total of 37 points, comfortably ahead of second place Dodge City with 48. Pratt was third with 65 while Hesston, Hutchinson, and Garden City all scored more than 100 points.

The meet was the final one for Barton coach Parker Cowles, who had decided to move on to his alma mater and a top NCAA cross country program at the Air Force Academy.

Along with the men winning the title as well it was the first sweep of a title for the Barton men and women since 2002.

Mato and Douglas ran together most of the race as the sophomore from Ghana helped the freshman learn some pace. Mato pulled out for a 20:08.1 to win the race while Douglas ran 20:10.9. That beat Hannah Heidebrecth of Hesston by six seconds and everyone else by at least one minute.

Holly Pierce took 10th overall as the Cougars put three runners in the Top 10. Pierce ran 21:36.5. A pair of Great Bend High runners were next for the Cougars with Kaitlynn Tuey taking 13th in 21:52.3 and Mariah Stein 20th in 22:29.9.

The rest of the Barton field saw Emilykate Hopson-Boyd in 34th with a 24:33.4 and Julee McAtee 37th in 24:54.9.

The Cougars will be idle from competition until the Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark. the first weekend in October.