Whitley County runners sign with Cumberlands

The University of the Cumberlands added two talented athletes to its track and field program Friday morning when Whitley County Colonels Keaton Logan and Adam Petrey signed on to run as Patriots beginning next school year.

Logan has been turning heads for the past couple of years with his distance running ability, both in track and cross country. He will be competing in both at the college level for UC.

“I think with Keaton we are getting a quality kid,” said Patriots Head Coach Randy Greer after the signing. “We already have his older brother in the program, so we’re familiar with his family, and we know what kind of character he has. He is someone who I think will get a lot better once he gets into college, and after he begins doing some harder training I think we are going to see a big improvement out of him.”

Logan said of signing with Cumberlands, “When I started back in eighth grade I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into, but I came out that year, ran cross country, loved it, and I have stuck with it ever since. I picked up track my sophomore year. I tried something new, went with mid-distance, and I fell in love with it too. It’s always been a dream of mine to run at the collegiate level, and it is a dream come true to be able to run at University of the Cumberlands.”

Petrey, who signed today exclusively for track, has only competed for the last two seasons. In that time, however, he has quickly become one of the Colonels’ top point producers in sprint, relay and hurdling events.

Coach Greer said of Petrey, “With Adam, he is so new to the sport, but the sky is the limit with him. He’s got the size and speed. It’s just going to be a matter of getting some technique work down, and I believe that he is also a kid that can do some really big things for us at the conference level. Maybe even at the national level.”

Petrey said, “My junior year was my first year for track. I did it mainly to stay in good shape for basketball, but it was really fun, and I found out that I was pretty good at it. I just stuck with it. As for going to Cumberlands, my brother goes there, so I want to be with him. It’s also exciting to be able to sign today and know that I’m going to be running with Keaton, my teammate.”

Whitley County track and cross country Head Coach David Lennon said of his two outgoing seniors, “I look back at when Keaton started in middle school, and he was just a little squirt. His goal then was just to beat his brother, who runs at Cumberlands now. I knew he was going to be good, because he was always so determined. To see where he started, and to see where he is now, is a tribute to his hard work. I’m just so proud of him.”

“Adam came out last year for track. This is only his second year running, and I don’t think he really understands just how good he can be. He’s pretty darn good right now, and I think he is going to be something really, really special at the college level.”

“Keaton and Adam both have tremendous work ethic. That is what has carried them to this point, and that is what will carry them into the future.”

These two runners, along with the rest of the Whitley County track and field team, still have some business to take care of this spring before anybody can fully shift their focus to what will happen after high school. With region competition fast approaching, the Colonels are hoping to qualify several athletes for the 2016 KHSAA state championship meet.

We will find out who qualifies for state next week when Whitley travels to Pulaski County for their region meet on Saturday, May 14. State competition will take place the following week at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. The News Journal will have full coverage of those events after they take place.