NORMAN, Okla. – What started as a picture perfect Friday night in Oklahoma turned into a soggy Saturday at the John Jacobs Invitational at the University of Oklahoma.
A pair of Cougars took advantage of that nice weather Friday night to punch their ticket to the NJCAA Championships by hitting the qualifying marks needed.
Mirena Goncalves ran for the first time since last fall and hit the qualifying mark needed in the 5000m with a time of 18:54.42. Goncalves last ran during the cross country season at the Fort Hays State Open, where she finished ninth overall before an injury kept her out of the post season as well as the indoor season.
Last year as a freshman, Goncalves finished fourth in the 10,000m at the NJCAA National Meet and 11th in the 5000m.
Also hitting a qualifying mark was Kameliah Style in the hammer throw at 147-6.
Barton’s lone champion came in the 100m hurdles where Mahendra McWhite won in personal best time of 13.8. That is the third best time in the NJCAA this year, just behind a wind-aided time of 13.79 in second.
Olivian Jackson finished third in the 400m hurdles in a time of 1:05.08 as well as taking sixth in the 100m hurdles in 15.06.
Nijah Roberson was second in the open 400m in 57.33. Cadeebra Calcote was fourth in 57.68 and Tia Steward seventh in 59.48.
Also on the track, Keosha Sanders was sixth in the 100m in 12.17 and Calcote was seventh in the 800m in 2:22.50.
Latavia Maines placed in a pair of throwing events, taking fifth in the shot put at 51-3.75 and seventh in the discus at 133-8.
Both the 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams were second in Oklahoma. Roberson, Sanders, Rashan Darling and Deborah Giffard took second in the 4x1 in 46.75. Roberson, Stewart, Jackson and Calcote were second in the 4x4 in 3:52.23.
Next on the schedule for the Cougars is the Region VI Championships May 3-5 in Hutchinson.