Over the past two years the athletic department has made significant steps in starting track and field. After gaining interest from the student body and attempting to assist the off-season development of the cross country program, training started in the spring of 2015. Once again, this winter, interest for track and field continued to grow and after 6 weeks of training, two student-athletes represented Barclay College at the Tabor College Invitational Track Meet on Saturday, April 23rd.

On Saturday, junior Isaac Burnett (Peabody, Kans.) and sophomore Nick Entz (Valley Center, Kans.) both competed in the men’s shot put. Burnett finished 20th out of 33 throwers with a throw of 11.81 meters while Entz finished 26th with a throw of 11.4 meters.

Burnett reflected, “It was a great experience to be a part of the Barclay College track and field team. The program is being built well from the ground up, as this is a new program, and I am thankful to be able to compete alongside others in this new endeavor.”

At a minimum, next year the program aims to add runners in the distance events. Former collegiate sprinter Justin Kendall trains all the sprinters, new cross country coach Whitney Kregar will lead the distance runners, athletic director Royce Bryan works with the jumpers, and Burnett assists with the throwers.

“I am encouraged about the direction of the track and field program,” said Bryan. “Every year it continues to build momentum and I’m excited to see additional growth heading into the 2017 season.”