Two years after a request for a similar move was rejected, the Harlan County track and cross country programs are moving from Region 5 to Region 7 after being approved recently by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Board of Control.
Harlan County High School athletic director Eugene Farmer made the request earlier this summer, focusing on the long trip to central Kentucky in the spring for the regional meet. HCHS will now be in the same region as familiar and neighboring rivals Letcher Central and Perry Central. The school will also likely be given an opportunity to host regional meets with perhaps the nicest track and cross country facilities in the region. HCHS has hosted the Region 7 meet in the past, even when it was a member of Region 5.
“It was last year when our track and field team returned from their regional meet in Boyle County at 2:15 a.m. when I knew that I had to make the request,” Farmer said. “I can’t imagine the worry and stress that the parents of our student-athletes endured when our team was traveling back so late. I want to express my appreciation to 13th Region KHSAA Board of Control Representative Russell Thompson as well as Commissioner Julian Tackett and the KHSAA Board of Control for recognizing the sincerity and legitimacy of our request and acting on it. This move will cut our travel time significantly, and also geographically categorizes us with other traditional ‘mountain schools.’ It’s just a blessing for our school, our student-athletes, and our track/cross country programs.”
The move also makes the regions most balanced with Region 7 now having 11 teams while Region 5 includes 14 teams.
“I’m pleased about this move and applaud Mr. Farmer for continuing to make this request on behalf of our student-athletes,” said Harlan County track and cross country coach Ryan Vitatoe. “This is important on many levels for our program in terms of travel, as we will no longer have super long trips year after year for the regional meet. Also, it allows us to see the bulk of our competition regularly as many of these schools compete at our place (or locally) throughout the season. For the past few years, we’ve had to make long trips during the track season to see more than half of our regional competition. A case in point was returning home from Boyle County after 1 a.m. on a testing night during the regular season so we could see teams that do not compete in our geographic area. It made it tough on the kids. I’m very thankful to Mr. Farmer and our BOC representative Russell Thompson for continuing to advocate for our student-athletes. Equally, I appreciate the Board of Control for hearing the request and recognizing this is an issue based squarely on geography and the best interest of our kids.”
Harlan remained in Region 6 of Class A.
Harlan County High School athletic director Eugene Farmer made the request earlier this summer, focusing on the long trip to central Kentucky in the spring for the regional meet. HCHS will now be in the same region as familiar and neighboring rivals Letcher Central and Perry Central. The school will also likely be given an opportunity to host regional meets with perhaps the nicest track and cross country facilities in the region. HCHS has hosted the Region 7 meet in the past, even when it was a member of Region 5.
“It was last year when our track and field team returned from their regional meet in Boyle County at 2:15 a.m. when I knew that I had to make the request,” Farmer said. “I can’t imagine the worry and stress that the parents of our student-athletes endured when our team was traveling back so late. I want to express my appreciation to 13th Region KHSAA Board of Control Representative Russell Thompson as well as Commissioner Julian Tackett and the KHSAA Board of Control for recognizing the sincerity and legitimacy of our request and acting on it. This move will cut our travel time significantly, and also geographically categorizes us with other traditional ‘mountain schools.’ It’s just a blessing for our school, our student-athletes, and our track/cross country programs.”
The move also makes the regions most balanced with Region 7 now having 11 teams while Region 5 includes 14 teams.
“I’m pleased about this move and applaud Mr. Farmer for continuing to make this request on behalf of our student-athletes,” said Harlan County track and cross country coach Ryan Vitatoe. “This is important on many levels for our program in terms of travel, as we will no longer have super long trips year after year for the regional meet. Also, it allows us to see the bulk of our competition regularly as many of these schools compete at our place (or locally) throughout the season. For the past few years, we’ve had to make long trips during the track season to see more than half of our regional competition. A case in point was returning home from Boyle County after 1 a.m. on a testing night during the regular season so we could see teams that do not compete in our geographic area. It made it tough on the kids. I’m very thankful to Mr. Farmer and our BOC representative Russell Thompson for continuing to advocate for our student-athletes. Equally, I appreciate the Board of Control for hearing the request and recognizing this is an issue based squarely on geography and the best interest of our kids.”
Harlan remained in Region 6 of Class A.
