In a battle to the finish line, Maya Maldonado edged teammate Narissa McPherson as the Barton Community College sophomore duo concluded the cross country season Friday morning at the KJCCC/Region 6 Championships held at The Ollie in El Dorado, Kansas.
Normally middle-distance runners for Barton’s nationally ranked track and field program, the pair tackled their first collegiate 5K race, running virtually stride for stride throughout the course before Maldonado crossed the line in 23:35.52, edging McPherson’s 23:35.74 by a mere 0.22 seconds.
Maldonado placed 52nd overall in the field, finishing 45th among Division I competitors and 36th in the KJCCC West standings. McPherson followed in 53rd overall, 46th in Division I and 37th in the conference’s western division.
