Some students, we’ve been told, don’t enjoy the college experience as much as they should because they aren’t involved with activities at their school. That shouldn’t be a problem for either Madison Blanton or Abby Stephens next year when they attend the University of the Cumberlands.

Blanton and Stephens signed with the school’s track program in a ceremony Tuesday at Harlan County High School. Both are also expected to compete on the school’s soccer team.

“I’m so happy and proud for these two and the opportunity their hard work has earned them,” said Harlan County track/cross country coach Ryan Vitatoe. “This gives them the opportunity to grow as athletes and as people. Having the chance to work with coaches who specialize in their events and the chance to compete on a daily basis against more experienced athletes will be essential to their growth. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to have coached them, and I know they will all be successful. I look forward to one last season with each of them and the leadership they will provide to our team.”

Blanton competed in cross country from the fourth grade until her freshman year and was on a state qualifying team. She has set school records at HCHS in the long, triple and high jumps and was a member of the 4×200 relay team that narrowly missed qualifying for the 3A state meet last year.

“I’m very proud of Madison. I’ve had the opportunity to watch her grow up in the sport and become a very important part of building the track program at HCHS. She’s been there since I took over the team and was always a bright spot as we struggled to build the program to the competitive level it currently is,” Vitatoe said. “She’s a big reason for our climb. She has a great attitude and has always been a hard worker, and I have no doubt she will make an immediate impact for UC in the jumps next season. She’s worked incredibly hard to get ready for this season after her injury in the fall, and I’m hopeful we will have her back in uniform in the early season.”

“I really liked the campus and I know a lot of people there already,” Blanton said. “They have some good programs. I don’t know what I will do yet, but I have some ideas. I’m a little nervous about two sports, but I think I can do it.”

Stephens joined the track team as a freshman and has been a record holder in the 100-meter hurdles, the long jump, and was a member of the record-holding 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams during her career. She was also a leader in the first HCHS soccer teams and expects to play striker for the Cumberlands.

“Abby has a high ceiling in track,” Vitatoe said. “Like Madison, she’s been very versatile in track and gives her absolute best in all that she does. She’s grown a great deal during her time in the program and is a wonderful teammate and a fierce competitor. She will be able to make an immediate impact in the long jump and the 100 hurdles. What I’ve always enjoyed in coaching Abby is she will do any event you ask her to do. She absolutely hated distance early in her career but did a great job before finding her spot in the sprints, jumps and hurdles. That type of attitude is what it takes to be successful.”

“I liked the environment and how it made me feel,” Stephens said of choosing the Cumberlands. “I think it will be challenging to compete in two sports, but I think I can do it.”