Logan County High School’s new course will be the site of the Kentucky High School Cross Country Super Regionals this Saturday, Oct. 25, beginning at 2 p.m.

“We have spent a small fortune getting the course together,” says Coach Sye Head. “KHSAA and other coaches have complimented it as one of the best courses in the state. It’s one of the very few that covers the full 5km (3.1 miles) without running a single section twice. There’s one big outer loop, using the woods section that Greg Howard, Greg Head, Mike Thomas and Greg Sears made back in 2009. 

The Cougars are ranked second going into this weekend, Coach Sye Head reports. Union County, Paducah and Webster County are the team’s biggest rivals fighting for the top spot. The top two teams Saturday advance to state.

Head says he estimates that 2,000 or more people will watch the regional run Saturday.

Logan County demonstrated clearly that the facility, the team and those who help the program in various ways are ready to host big meets like that one during a home meet Sept. 27.

According to Coach Head, it was the largest meet in the history of the school, as 38 teams competed in one morning. Additionally, multiple other homeschool and unattached athletes competed. This was the most athletes ever in Logan County history in a cross country/track meet.

Some results from that meet:

• Delaney Switzer won the elementary girls race overall by mere seconds, setting and holding the new course record.
• Pyper Foutch, a 4th grader, ran the same race and took 21^st in her first season. 
• The Logan County elementary boys then stole the show and beat out two of the state’s best elementary teams by just five points, with nearly all athletes running personal bests. Dylan Crocker took 2^nd place, Abel Connelly took 3^rd, Hayden Hamrick (a 5th grader) took 7^th and Joe Blanton took 8^th. “Logan County putting 4 in the top 10 was an incredible site to see,” Head says. Kooper Foutch took 27^th and Josue Hamrick took 35^th, with both boys being in their first season ever and still beating nearly 30+ competitors 
• In middle school race, SJ Hughes took 15^th, Deklan Ruuska took 22^nd, Carter Arnold took 37^th and Damari Goodloe took 38^th.
• *We sat out half of the high school team and the boys help me with awards ceremonies all day - focus on the Elementary teams,* Head explains.

Regional competition will be a first for most team members. Last year, LCHS did not have a full team to run. Only two boys competed. This year, the Cougars have a full varsity team, consisting of Garrett Lawson, Gabe Masterman, Cole Christmas, Casey Slaughter, Wyatt Lawson, Jack Blanton and SJ Hughes.

Coach Head notes, “If we do win regionals, it will be the first time since I was a senior, 2012. It’s been 13 years since a regional championship was won. We have spent most of the year training, not racing. No one knows just how good we all are yet.”

Sye Head was a highly successful runner, always medaling at region and finishing as state runner-up as a senior. His cousin, Noah Thomas, was regional champion twice.

“Noah ran at state and nationals with me. He is coaching with me this weekend. His importance to Logan County running history should be appreciated, I’m very grateful he’s coming out to get on the course and help me coach,” Head says.  

The public is invited to come watch. The fee is $10 at the gate for parking. That money goes to the team and to the school. Food will be available.