Barton Community College, northeast of Great Bend, has produced 29 Olympic athletes -- in track and field alone -- during the past 50 years. Eleven former or current Barton athletes have been competing at the summer games this year (nine in track and field events, two in basketball). Some notable Barton athletes in London include Tyson Gay, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Hyleas Fountain and Tabarie Henry.
A small, two-year school in the middle of Kansas has been keeping a close eye on the London Olympics. As Kansas Public Radio's J. Schafer reports, Barton County Community College has 11 student athletes competing in the summer games.
So, just how big a deal is it that Barton has 11 former or current athletes at this year's summer Olympics? By way of comparison, the state's two largest four-year schools -- the University of Kansas and Kansas State University -- have a combined total that's less than 11. K-State has six athletes competing in London. KU has four. So... it's a pretty big deal.