by Benny Benton
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Barton College junior Sharon Kiptoo broke the indoor school record in the 3000-meter run on Saturday during the Lady Bulldogs' season-opener at JDL Fast Track.
The Eldoret, Kenya, resident raced to a time of 10:41.79, easily surpassing the previous BC mark of 11:11.03 held by current teammate Heather Cuddington. Kiptoo was the top NCAA Division II performer in the event and placed fifth overall among 38 competitors.
Several other Barton participants came close to school records as well, including freshmen Jamina Morris and Desiree Whitley. Morris missed the 60-meter hurdles mark by less than a tenth with a mark of 9.47 seconds that earned 22nd place in a field of 56. Whitley was less than two-tenths short of the BC standard in the shot put with her toss of 10.69 meters, which claimed 19th in a field of 39.
Morris, a resident of Edison, N.J., also made an impressive collegiate debut in the 200-meter run, finishing 13th in a field of 74 with a mark of 26.37 seconds. The time was better than any recorded by the Lady Bulldogs last season.
Barton freshmen established a total of eight benchmarks by competing in events for the first time collegiately. Two BC veterans in addition to Kiptoo broke existing personal records, Tameeka Williford in the 60-meter dash (8.49) and Judith Melly in the 3000-meter run (12:08.79).
The Lady Bulldogs will take a holiday break before returning to action on January 14 at the Art and Linda Maillet Open in Chapel Hill, N.C.
