By: Katie Zigelman, News Staff
Senior Jessica Barton broke the school record for the 5,000-meter run by almost nine seconds at the Stanford Invitational meet Friday, March 25 while qualifying for the NCAA championship meet. Her performance earned her Huntington News Player of the Week honors.
“[Barton] didn’t break it, she destroyed it,” head coach Sherman Hart said. “Brittany Moriarty was one of our toughest athletes – it went from one good to another.”
Moriarty set the previous record of 16:44.03 in April of 2009. Barton ran the event in 16:35.85 for an 11th place finish in her section, 39th total.
“Her [record] time is the same as the qualifying time for the regional meet so it was my goal going into the season to get that time,” Barton said. “Not necessarily to break the record.”
The Newton native transferred to Northeastern after attending Wake Forest University in North Carolina for one year. She decided to transfer to be closer to home and because she liked the school.
“I like the location near Boston,” Barton said. “Wake Forest is kind of in the middle of nowhere. I like being in the city more; there is more stuff to do. I also like the classes better for my journalism major and I enjoyed getting a minor in criminal justice.”
Of her three years at Northeastern, Barton said this year has been the best. Hart added that she is transitioning greatly from one level to the next.
“Jess [Barton] was an outstanding high school distance runner and she’s been coming, coming, coming,” Hart said. “Now she has arrived, she is here and she is the same Jess as high school but at a higher level. We are happy to see her really come on.”
Barton participated in outdoor track in middle school but began running competitively during her freshman year of high school.
Barton participated in both indoor and outdoor track at Newton North High School for four years. She was named Boston Globe high school runner of the year twice and a Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic five times. She set the Newton North records in the mile (4:57) and two-mile (10:37) and ran on the 4 x 800 and distance medley relays which also set school records. She was a 2004 indoor state champion.
Barton also played soccer and ran cross country in high school. Her original plan for high school was to play soccer and basketball and then compete in outdoor track. However, she ended up doing cross country and really enjoyed running sports.
Growing up, Barton played a variety of sports including soccer and basketball.
“Every once in a while I still like to play basketball,” Barton said.
In college, Barton competes in both the indoor and outdoor track seasons.
“I like them both equally,” Barton said. “Indoor always has the perfect weather conditions but outdoor can be more exciting, especially at the end of the season when there is nice weather.”
Barton is majoring in journalism and is unsure what she wants to do after graduation. Going to law school is one option. She is also planning on training for triathlons.
When the weather is nice, Barton enjoys spending time outside. She does not get much free time in her day but when she does, she spends it hanging out and relaxing.
Barton is trying to win the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) conference meet during her final season of collegiate track. She also plans to compete well at regionals in order to make it to nationals. Hart is hoping to see her beat the William and Mary women track runners in the distance events at the CAA championship to help the team win.
