Coming off a sprint double that yielded 18 points at the 2018 NEC Indoor Championships, Barnes opened the outdoor season by taking the conference lead in the 100m dash. Contesting the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational in Myrtle Beach, Barnes sprinted to a bronze medal by completing the final in 11.97. Earlier, she won her preliminary heat by crossing the line in 11.89. That time places her seventh overall on the early-season ECAC regional leader board. While in Myrtle Beach, Barnes helped Mount's 400m relay team to an ECAC Championships-qualifying finish in 47.79.