Somerset — Pulaski County's standout distance runner Patrick Jenkins signed to continue his running career to Western Kentucky University, an elite Division I program. Jenkins, an all-state cross country runner, was a three-time regional cross country champion and has won three regional track titles as well.
Jenkins was already decked out with the red and white colors of the Western Hilltoppers, as his father, Dr. Patrick Jenkins is a former Hilltopper himself.
"I wasn't sure I was going to Western, but they have a beautiful campus and it is a big school, and that is what I was looking for in a college," Jenkins said.
But Jenkins wasn't sure he was going to be a runner in his early years at Pulaski County High School.
"I started playing soccer full-time and ran part-time when I was a freshman," Jenkins recalled. "After I ran a mini-marathon, I knew that I wanted to be a runner and I felt that is what God wanted me to do."
Pulaski cross country coach Byron Childers was probably the happiest to see Jenkins devote all his time to running, as the talented distance runner has been the main core of the Maroons' cross country team for the past three years.
"Patrick is only the fourth runner to sign with a D1 college since I have been coaching here at Pulaski County," Childers said. "Patrick is the most cerebral runner I have ever coached. He should have no problem handling the increased running work load at the collegiate level and I think he will only get better once he works with more experienced and knowledgeable coaches."
Jenkins has stepped up his mileage over the past year in preparation for the college level.
" I have increased my mileage from 50 miles a week to about 75 to 80 miles a week in preparation for college," Jenkins said.
Among Jenkins' six regional titles, he was named the 2005 Commonwealth Journal's Runner of the Year and has been selected to the all-county cross country team for the past three years. He also won the 2005 Kentucky Class AAA cross country meet Sportsmanship Award.
Jenkins is a 4.0 student and currently has the third highest grade point average at Pulaski County High School. He is the vice president of the school's National Honor Society and he is a Governor's Scholar.
Somerset — Pulaski County's standout distance runner Patrick Jenkins signed to continue his running career to Western Kentucky University, an elite Division I program. Jenkins, an all-state cross country runner, was a three-time regional cross country champion and has won three regional track titles as well.
Jenkins was already decked out with the red and white colors of the Western Hilltoppers, as his father, Dr. Patrick Jenkins is a former Hilltopper himself.
"I wasn't sure I was going to Western, but they have a beautiful campus and it is a big school, and that is what I was looking for in a college," Jenkins said.