Mitchell County track standout West signed letter-of-intent with Barton Junior College in Kansas

ALBANY – Mitchell County track standout West recently signed a letter-of-intent to run track at Barton Junior College in Great Bend, Kan.

West is the two-time Class A public school state champion in the 200-meter dash. He won this year’s state title in the 100-meter dash as well.

West caught the eye of a few big schools, but decided to go run track at Barton.

“To be honest, I really didn’t want to go to college,” West said. “I wanted to enlist in the Army or the Air Force, but in the end I decided to go.”

West said that one reason he chose Barton to get ready for the next level. He believes Barton’s track program will help him drop his times and enable him to compete at the Division I level.

“Once I’m done at Barton, my goal is to run track at the University of Florida,” he said.

In addition to winning state titles in the 200 and 100-meter dash, West finished third in the 100-meter dash in last summer’s National Junior Olympics meet in Humble, Texas.

He said that was his most memorable moment as a track athlete.

West also played football for the Mitchell County High Eagles, mainly as a slot receiver and running back, but wants to stick with track in college.

“I’m done with football. That’s just a high school thing,” he said.

According to Mitchell County football coach Larry Cornelius, West has a work ethic that will take him a long way.

“His work ethic is unreal. Last summer, he was doubling up his workouts,” Cornelius said. “He had a two or three hour practice with football and then another hour or two practice with track. The good part about McKinley is that no matter where he goes in the future, he’s going to be successful because of his work ethic.”