HAYS – It was pretty much throwers and sprinters but those groups were impressive.
Barton Community College men’s track coach Dave Schenek limited his entrants at the Alex Francis Classic on the campus of Fort Hays State to just throwers and sprinters but won eight of the 11 events the Cougars entered. And several of those were not competing in their usual events.
Barton’s Mike Simmons won the 100m – matching his feet from the opening meet at Alabama. Simmons won with a time of 10.52, just edging teammate Alex Richemond who ran a 10.53 for second. Marquee Montgomery was fifth in 10.77. Also running for Barton was Shdrack Adu-Gyami in eighth in 10.88 and Ashawn Bryan who ran an 11.30.
One of the few events Barton didn’t win – and the only race it didn’t win – was the 200m. Kennedy Mayweather was second and Simmons third however. Mayweather ran a 21.29 and Simmons a 21.49. Quick Stukes ran a 21.54 for fifth. Micah Carey added an eighth place effort in 22.03 and Montgomery ninth at 23.10. Jaquez Wilson (23.29) and Bryan (23.42) also ran in the 200m.
The Cougars also dominated the 400m with Deron Gordon winning the race in 48.16 followed Anthony Adderly with a 48.68 in second. Zodani Francois was fourth in 49.76.
The Cougars won both middle distance races they entered as Devyn Brotherton won the 800m with a time of 1:59.5 and Elder Colindres from Dodge City won the 1500m in 4:22.55. Abilene’s Marcus Pastran (4:38.24) and Great Bend’s Kole Stiner (4:43.62) were fifth and seventh in the 1500m as well.
Francois won the 110m hurdles with a time of 15.01 and the 4x400m relay team won gold as well.
In the four throwing events, Barton took first in two. Alireza Rafiei won the shot put with a distance of 51-5.75. He was one of three Cougars in the top five. Romario Antoine was third at 49-8.25 and Donald Daley fifth with a toss of 47-1.75.
Daley earned gold in the hammer throw with a 155-10 effort. Hoisington High graduate Tyler Jordan was fourth at 121-1.
Daley also took third in the discus at 154-1 and Antoine was fourth at 143-3. Colby Overturf, a Stanton County sophomore, was fourth in the javelin with a throw of 168-10.