Basele leads nine national qualifiers as Barton women open outdoor slate in Louisiana #GoBarton

The Barton Community College women's track and field team opened its 2026 outdoor campaign with strong statement performances Friday and Saturday at the Louisiana Classics held at the Home Bank Soccer and Track Complex in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Competing in a deep early-season field, the Cougars carried over their indoor momentum to begin the outdoor slate, producing nine national qualifiers, five personal bests, and an event title.

Leading the charge on the track, Thomphang Basele delivered the program's first outdoor event title of the season, capturing the 400-meter crown in a national qualifying time of 53.54. The Cougars' sprint group showed impressive early form across multiple events, highlighted by three national qualifiers in the 100m. Kayda Austin led the way with a fifth-place, personal-best time of 11.63, while Camoy Binger followed closely in seventh at 11.73. Asharria Ulett, competing in her first outdoor 100m, also reached national standards with an 11.90 to place 10th.

Additional momentum came in the 200m as Narissa McPherson's first ever attempt at the outdoor half oval placed fifth in 24.47, while Takeila Williams added a 24.86 showing after earlier clocking a personal best of 11.98 in the 100m, missing national standards by just .06 seconds.

Joining Basele in the 400m, Natasha Fox placed fourth in 56.30 while Alexia Walker added a ninth-place finish in a first-time 57.37 performance.

In the field events, Barton's throws group continued to pile up national marks, with three coming in the discus and two more in the hammer throw. Zadie Mackey delivered a pair of personal-best marks in both the discus (45.99m) and hammer (49.84m). Shamoyea Morris added qualifying performances in the discus (45.56m) and hammer (44.43m), while fellow freshman Shamoye Morris qualified in the discus (44.82m) and added near-qualifying efforts with an eighth-place shot put throw (12.53m) and a 21st-place finish in the hammer (39.12m). Makiya Mosley also opened her season with a personal-best mark of 5.05m in the long jump.

Barton will continue its outdoor schedule next Saturday, with a limited squad competing at the Mark A. Phillips Tiger Classic hosted at the Phillips Track and Field Complex in Arkansas City, Kansas, with events scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m.

Barton's Louisiana Classic Results (Complete Results) (PB/SB = Personal/Season best; NQ = National Qualifying)
100m: 5th Kayda Austin (PB NQ 11.63), 7th Camoy Binger (NQ 11.73), 10th Asharria Ulett (NQ 11.90 *1st Time), 13th Takeila Williams (PB 11.98)
200m: 5th Narissa McPherson (24.47 *1st Time), 11th Takeila Williams (24.86), 23rd Sethunya Majama (25.51), 42nd Destany Johnson (26.87)
400m: 1st Thomphang Basele (NQ 53.54), 4th Natasha Fox (56.30), 9th Alexia Walker (57.37 *1st Time)
Long Jump: 24th Makiya Mosley (PB 5.05m, 16-07.00), 31st Jahmeka Brown (4.77m, 15-07.75)
Discus Throw: 4th Zadie Mackey (PB NQ 45.99m, 150-10), 5th Shamoyea Morris (NQ 45.56m, 149-05), 7th Shamoye Morris (NQ 44.82m, 147-00)
Hammer Throw: 7th Zadie Mackey (PB NQ 49.84m, 163-06), 10th Shamoyea Morris (NQ 44.43m 145-09), 21st Shamoye Morris (39.12m, 128-04)
Shot Put: 8th Shamoye Morris (12.53m, 41-01.50)