Trojans advance to Cross Country State

Senior Mitchael Shelton takes top spot in region
by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor
For the third consecutive year, the Webster County boys’ cross country team ran away with the AA Region 1 Championship on Saturday, placing four runners in the top five.
Senior Mitchell Shelton took control of the race in the first 800 meters and never looked back, claiming the overall top spot for the second straight year, finishing the race in 16:38.67.

He was followed by senior Trevor Cole in third (17:19.18), junior Ronin Periard in fourth (17:25.94) and senior Preston Glazebrook in fifth (17:42.12).
“Placing four guys in the top five just shows how important this race meant for the team,” said Coach Todd Whitsell. “This marks three years in a row this group has been able to call themselves Region Champs.”

Trojans run away with second place in State Cross Country meet

 

By CHARLIE HUST

Webster County boy’s cross country team made school history on Saturday, capturing the runners-up trophy in the 2014 KHSAA Class 2A State Championship held at the Kentucky State Horse Park in Lexington.

It was the best finish ever for the tradition-rich Trojan cross country program as coach Todd Whitsell and his group of talented runners continue to make their mark as a statewide powerhouse. Whitsell took over the WCHS cross country program in 2007 and has taken his squads to the state meet in all but two seasons. But this team was ‘special’ from the opening race of the season, winning four invitational meets along with a Class 2A, Region 1 title two weeks ago.

Webster Cross Country continues domination

By CHARLIE HUST

Webster County boys’ cross country team ran away with the annual tri-county meet held Thursday night at Baker Parker in Dixon.

WCHS captured the first six places in the race and finished with an incredible, perfect low score of 15, topping Henderson County (48) and Union County (82).

WC Boys take top spot at Owensboro Invitational

Cole takes second individual title of the year

By CHARLIE HUST

Webster County boys’ cross country team rolled into a tradition-rich, cross country city on Saturday and came away with the top prize, winning the Owensboro Cross Country Invitational held at Yellow Creek Park.

It’s was the first invitational win of the season for the Trojans and the second individual title for Trevor Cole.

Trojan's Cole wins meet, leads team to second place overall

By CHARLIE HUST

Webster County Trevor Cole has been very accustomed to seeing a maroon jersey crossing the finish line first over the past three seasons. So the talented junior decided it was his time to head to the winner’s circle during the annual Madisonville-North Hopkins Cross Country Invitational held Saturday on the school’s campus, featuring 19 schools and 138 runners.

Cole turned in a 17:06 time to easily win the meet and lead the Trojans to a second place team finish. The junior, who has run in the shadows of Jon Ashby and Iszack Whitsell the past four years, took the lead at the two mile mark and then breezed to the win by more than 10 seconds.

Whitsell signs with Morehead State

By CHARLIE HUST

A training regiment only matched by college runners, vaulted WCHS senior Iszack Whitsell from an average runner to the cross country medal podium last fall and has earned him a scholarship to Morehead State University.

The talented Whitsell, who ranks seventh academically in his class, signed a scholarship pact in front of family and friends last Tuesday to continue his athletic and academic careers at the Division I, Ohio Valley Conference school.

“This is a dream come true, to be able to continue my running at a Division I school and also pursue my goal of a degree in Physics,” Whitsell stated. “If I can do this, then anyone can with hard work, dedication and determination. There are many guys in this room right now that can also have this (signing) day as well.”

Whitsell enjoyed an historical senior season in cross country, being named Area 1 ‘Runner of the Year’ after placing second in the 2013 KHSAA Class AA State Championship. He was also named to the Class AA All-Area Team and was selected to the Kentucky Track and Cross Country Coaches Class AA ‘All State’ team.

WCHS runner honored

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. 

WCHS finishes season

By CHARLIE HUST

Webster County cross country teams capped off one of the finest seasons in school history on Saturday with some outstanding performances in the 2013 KHSAA State Championships held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

Led by a third-place finish from Iszack Whitsell, the Trojans finished fifth overall in the Class 2A race. It was the best team finish ever for a WCHS squad. And Whitsell’s third-place clocking of 16:37.29 was the best ever by a Trojan on the state course designed in 2009. It tied him with John Warren who also finished third in the state meet in 1990.

Webster County junior Ali Cherry also saved her best race for the state meet, finishing 21st overall, the best for a Lady Trojan on the new state course. That led WCHS to a 10th-place team finish, the best in school history. Both Cherry and Whitsell were named to the 2013 KHSAA ‘All State’ squads. Whitsell was also honored by the Kentucky National Guard with the ‘Leadership and Sportsmanship Award’.

Cross Country teams compete at Regionals (Photos)

By CHARLIE HUST

Webster County cross country teams certainly have ‘saved their best for last’ as evident during Saturday’s Region 1, Class 2A Championship held at Marshall County High School.

The Trojans dominated the race, winning the Regional crown with ease. The WCHS girls’s squad, missed out on a regional title by a stride as Fort Campbell claimed the title by three points.

Webster head coach Todd Whitsell had nothing but praise for his Trojan squad, emphasizing their hard work and determination throughout the season.

Tri-County Challenge no challenge for WC (Photo Slide Show)

By CHARLIE HUST

Both Webster County squads easily won the annual Tri-County Challange races held at East Heights Elementary School in Henderson last Thursday. The Trojans earned a commanding 19-41 win over Henderson while Union County did not field an entire team.

In girls’ action, the Lady Trojans took eight of the top nine spots in the race for a dominating 15-50 victory over Henderson.

WCHS Cross Country competes in Greater Louisville Cross County Classic

By CHARLIE HUST

If you want to be the best, you have to play the best ... or in this case run against the best. That’s the philosophy of the Webster County cross country teams.

The WCHS squads traveled to Louisville on Saturday to complete in the prestigious Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic held at the E. P. Tom Sawyer State Park.

In the boys’ varsity race, Webster fared quite well finishing 15th out of the 36-team field and over 230 runners. WCHS senior Iszack Whitsell turned in an outstanding performance, posting his best 5K time of the season at 16:44.97. Jonathan Taylor of Portland Christian Academy won the race in 16:08.09.

Iszack Whitsell wins second 5K invitational title

By CHARLIE HUST

As cross country regional and state championships fast approach, one WCHS runner seems to be on a mission. Webster senior Iszack won his second 5K invitational title of the year, capturing the highly-touted Marshall County Invitational Saturday in Draffenville.

Whitsell turned in one of his fastest times of the season (16:52.23) on Saturday to easily top the field and lead the Trojans to a third-place team finish.

Webster freshman Ronin Periard was 21st overall in 18:44.58 while Trevor Cole, a sophomore, returned to competition after missing three weeks with an injury. He finished 33rd with a 19:01.90.

WCHS Cross County perfect score in Conference Championship

By CHARLIE HUST

Can you say Perfect! That’s exactly what the Webster County cross country Trojans shouted last Thursday, recording a perfect score in the newly-formed Pennyrile Athletic Conference Championship held at Hopkins County Central.

The Trojans posted the top nine finishes of the day to absolutely dominate the Hopkins Central 15-50. Union County and Crittenden County did not participate in the race.

“Nice way to set your mark in a brand new conference. Hopefully we can hold on to this title for many years to come,” noted WCHS head coach Todd Whitsell. “These guys have worked extremely hard this summer and during the fall, and now their hard work is really paying off.”

WC senior Iszack Whitsell easily won the race in 17:28, followed by teammates Ronin Periard (19:48), Robert Daugherty (20:00), Preston Glazebrook (20:02) and Nolan Petit in fifth place (20:10).

Whitsell leads Trojans to second place at Calloway County

by CHARLIE HUST

Webster County senior Iszack Whitsell finished second overall to lead the Trojan cross country team to a very impressive second-place finish during the Calloway County Invitational held at Murray State University’s West Farm Course on Saturday.

Graves County edged the Trojans for the team title by a single point, 52-53.

Whitsell covered the 5K course in 16:47.80, just behind Javan Winders of Henry County (TN) in a winning time of 16:30.80.

WCHS 3rd at 49th Annual Daviess County Invitational

by CHARLIE HUST

Webster County senior Iszack Whitsell continued his strong running style on Saturday, finishing second overall in the 49th Annual Daviess County Invitational held at Yellow Creek Park in Owensboro.

Whitsell took the early lead in the race but was overtaken by eventual winner Tristan Durbin of Apollo midway through the 5K race. Durbin finished with a 16:34.59 clocking on the hot and sweltering day while Whitsell crossed the finish line in 16:50.64.

Host Daviess County easily won the meet with all five runners in the top 20. Madisonville-North Hopkins was second while the Trojans looked very strong in third place despite racing without two of its top runners Trevor Cole and Nolan Pettit, out with an injuries.

Webster Boys Results

Iszack Whitsell, 2nd        16:50.64

Ronnin Periard, 27th       19:09.35 

Preston Glazebrook, 28th    19:11.68

Mitchael Shelton, 33rd        19:19.96

Robert Daugherty, 35th       19:39.96

Jeremy Garrett, 44th           19:58.29

Caanan Floyd, 47th             20:02.84

Spencer McCormick, 78th   21:33.52

Reece Clayton, 94th             22:35.24

Poom Prasopsvkh, 136th     29:01.52