by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – Senior Sharon Kiptoo recorded Barton College's best time of the season in the 3000-meter run, and freshman Jasmine Watson matched her top collegiate mark in the 60-meter run during competition Saturday in the Wake Forest Invitational at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Kiptoo, a resident of Eldoret, Kenya, participated in the 3000-meter event for the first time this year, and posted a mark of 11:16.93, which earned 16th place in a field of 40. Sophomore Meghan Araldi previously held the team's top time for the year at 11:41.77. Kiptoo holds the school record in the event at 10:41.49, set on the same track in December 2016.
Watson, a resident of Suffolk, Va., posted a mark of 8.31 seconds in the 60-meter run, which matched exactly her time from a week ago in the ETSU Invitational. Watson finished 35th in the event among a field of 75.
Five team members posted benchmark personal records by competing in an event for the first time collegiately. They included Araldi in the mile (5:52.04), Andrea Mills in the 200-meters (28.91 seconds) and 400-meters (1:06.60), and Courtney Ricks (8.40 seconds) and Nikki Helton (9.24 seconds) in the 60-meter dash.
Barton also sent part of its squad to the Appalachian Open in Boone, N.C., on Saturday. Freshman Trinity Wells claimed 22nd place among 39 participants in the shot put (10.45 meters) to lead the Lady Bulldogs in competition at Appalachian State University.
The Lady Bulldogs will return to action on Saturday at the Liberty Kickoff in Lynchburg, Va., which will be hosted by Liberty University.
