CARTERVILLE — Carterville’s Townsend Barton has signed with South Dakota for track and field.

Barton is a versatile, multisport athlete who competes in football and basketball as well as track and field for the Lions. He medaled in both hurdles events at last year’s 2A State Track, including second place in the 300 hurdles.

Barton decided to take that versatility to a new level last fall when he decided to tackle the decathlon. The decathlon includes pole vault, long and high jumps, shot put, discus, and javelin along with the 110 hurdles, the 100, 400, and 1500 meter runs.

Barton loved the challenge and despite having never competed in some of the events before, discovered he was able to more than hold his own. Now it’s netted him a scholarship to USD.