Results
CLINTON, Miss. —
Skylah Barton ran 6,000 meters in a career-best 25 minutes, 14.37 seconds Friday morning to lead Xavier University of Louisiana women's cross country in the Watson Collegiate Classic at Choctaw Trails.
Barton placed 59th out of 178 runners. Her time was the Gold Nuggets' fastest 6K since Catherine Fakler (24:07.38), Zahri Jackson (25:01.34) and Hannah Finnegan (25:10.09) at the Mississippi College/Watson Ford Invitational at Clinton on Oct. 5, 2012.
Two weeks earlier, Watson produced a best-in-12-years time of 25:16 at the Loyola Invitational.
Barton has been the Gold Nuggets' fastest finisher 12 times in her career, including nine of the past 10 meets.
Also competing for the Gold Nuggets were
Kayla Garrett, 139th in 29.32.70;
Ariyanna Medrano, 155th in 33:25.91; and
Vanessa Oladapo, 164th in 36:54.37.
XULA did not qualify for team scoring because only four Gold Nuggets completed the race. McMurry was first with 77 points, and Rhodes placed second with 97. Those are NCAA Division III members.
Anete Randma of Texas A&M-Commerce won in 22:23.63.
Next for XULA will be the Red River Athletic Conference Championships Nov. 2 in the San Antonio suburb of Windcrest, Texas. The women will run 6,000 meters, and the race will start at 8:30 a.m.
