By CHARLIE HUST
After one of the best cross country seasons in school history, the awards continue to come for Webster County runners.
WCHS senior Iszack Whitsell was chosen Area 1 ‘Runner of the Year’ and a member of the All-Area Boys’ First Team for all three class division in the state. Area 1 covers all the schools in western Kentucky from Henderson County across to Christian County and the western Kentucky border.
Whitsell was also named to the Kentucky Track and Cross Country Coaches Association (KTCCCA) Class AA All-State team. He will continue his athletic and academic careers at Morehead State University next fall, choosing the Ohio Valley Conference school over Western Kentucky University, Trevecca Nazarene, Northern Kentucky and University of the Cumberlands.
Morehead recently earned a berth in the NCAA Southeast Regionals and finished 14th out of 35 teams.
Whitsell noted that Morehead has a strong science and technology program that will fulfill his interest in Physics and eventually pursue graduate work in engineering.
Iszack’s father and head coach Todd Whitsell was also honored by the KTCCCA, being named Boys’ Area 1 ‘Coach of the Year’. This is the second time Whitsell has received the award. He also earned Class AA, All-Area ‘Coach of the Year’ for the boys’ cross country squad.
Other awards for Webster County athletes included junior Ali Cherry being selected to the KTCCCA Class AA All-State squad.
Webster also grabbed five of the 10 spots on the Class AA, All-Area Team including Whitsell, junior Robert Daugherty along with sophomores Mitchael Shelton and Trevor Cole plus freshman Ronin Periard.
Webster girls filled three of the top 10 positions on the Class AA, All-Area team, including Ali Cherry along with freshman Kalie Branson and seventh grader Hadley Mitchell.