KYtrackXC.com would like to thank everyone for another sucessful year of covering track and cross country in Kentucky. I estimate that over 5,000 pictures from races across Kentucky were added to the site in 2008. Below are the ten that really stuck out to me as the best.
These are in no particular order, but I will offer two of my favorites that I took. Both were taken at the Class AAA Kentucky State Track Meet last June in Louisville.
Picture 1 
Athlete: Trent Halasek, Scott County
Race: 800m Run
Taken at the University of Louisville during the Class AAA Kentucky State Track Meet
Description: Trent raised his arms as he crossed the line to win the Class AAA 800m Run State title. This was the end of the 2008 track season that saw him go from a consistent 2:00 800 runner to a 1:55 guy.
Picture 2 
Athlete: Rachel Adams, Calloway County
Event: High Jump
Taken at the University of Louisville during the Class AAA Kentucky State Track Meet
Desciption: Obviously this picture was taken mid-jump. I have no idea what height this is at. I do know she won her third consectutive Class AAA Girls High Jump and that this is a really cool picture.
Picture 3 
Athletes: Willie Polio, Owensboro Catholic (Left) and Gordy Dooley, St. Henry (Right)
Event: 2,000 Meter Steeplechase
Picture Taken at the University of Louisville on the first night of the Eastern Relays. Emailed from a duPont Manual fan.
Description: Eastern Girls Coach Mike Horan came up with the idea of having a 2,000 Meter Steeplechase race on the night before the Eastern Relays. Being this is the only time in 2008 the Steeplechase was run in a Kentucky High School track race, two of the best boys distance runners, Willie Polio and Gordy Dooley, decided to give it a try. Dooley ended up winning the race and Willie unfortunately ended his high school track career early.
Picture 4 
Athlete: Brad Wright, Apollo
Event: Shot Put
Picture taken at the Class AAA Region 1 Championship at Marshall County High School.
Description: Basically it is Brad throwing the shot. The thing I like about the picture is the fact it does not even look like he threw it. It looks more like someone shot it out of a cannon behind him and he just happens to be standing there.
Picture 5
Athletes: Stacey Eden (Shelby County), Jackson Carnes (St. Xavier), David Hamm (duPont Manual), Thomas Mann (St. Xavier), and Daniel Thurston (Western Hills)
Race: Rumble in the Jungle hosted by North Oldham High School
Desciption: From what I understand this is very close to the end of the race. The picture was taken from a distance but you can still see the determination in the faces of the three leaders Eden, Carnes, and Hamm. Eden went on to win the race with a 16:24 This picture was emailed by a Shelby County fan.
Picture 6
Athlete: Sharika Smith (Fulton County)
Event: Long Jump
Picture taken at the Invitational of the South held at Marshall County High School.
Desciption: Though she is in the midst of her jump this picture sticks out because she looks to be almost standing straight up as if she was running in mid-air. Smith is one of the best jumpers EVER in the state of Kentucky, taking after her father, Corey, who still holds the Class A Long Jump State Record.
Picture 7
Athlete: Unknown, McLean County
Event: Hurdles
Picture taken at the Daviess County Invitational held at Daviess County High School.
Desciption: I did not personally like running hurdles in high school, but I do like the way the pictures look when someone is going over a hurdle. Great picture taken by Nate Brelsford (Lone Oak) at the Daviess County Invitational.
Picture 8
Athletes: David Hamm (duPont Manual) and Gordy Dooley (St. Henry)
Event: Two Mile Run
Picture taken at the Mobile Meet of Champions in Mobile, Alabama.
Description: This was emailed in from duPont Manual. I want to say it is in the last lap if I am not mistaken. Hamm ended up getting Dooley in the end by .04 with a 9:43.53.
Picture 9
Event: Girls AA 100 Meter Dash Final
Picture taken at the University of Louisville during the Class AA Kentucky State Track Meet
Desciption: I caught the girls right as they came off the line.
Picture 10
Athletes: Stacey Eden (Shelby County), Ryan Eaton (Greenwood), and Jackson Carnes (St. Xavier)
Picture taken at the Class AAA Kentucky State Cross Country Championship
Description: I took this picture of the Class AAA lead pack which is probably about the 2.4 mile mark. Eden, Eaton, and Carnes started to pulled away from the rest right after the 2 Mile Mark. In the end, Eaton pulled away from all for his first Kentucky State Cross Country title.
Picture 11
This picture is of my wife, Daisy, and son, Aiden, sitting in the stands of the Class A/AA Region 1 Championships held at Paducah Tilghman High School. As you see from the picture, my wife is pointing me out on the infield to my son Aiden as I take a picture of them. Thanks to both of them for having the patience to take side trips sometimes so I can attend meets.