Almost 200 riders competed in Sunday’s first race of the 2022 Kentucky Interscholastic Cycling League season at Lexington’s Veterans Park. In just the second season of the KICL, they have seen tremendous growth.
The KICL is part of the National Interscholastic Cycling League which was founded in 2009. There are currently 30 states that make up the league.
The Marshall County team won the overall team title and five individual state titles in the league’s inaugural season last year. It was their eighth straight team state championship win after seven previous titles as part of the Tennessee Interscholastic Cycling League.
They are off to a great start in 2022 after Race #1, leading the team standings among 15 teams ahead of second place McCracken County. The Marshall County team placed 11 riders on the podium and took first place in five races.
Taking the top step of the podium, Presleigh Jennings (Varsity Girls), Owen Lepisto (Sophomore Boys), Emma Roberts (Freshman Girls), Brady Atkins (Freshman Boys) and Aiden Penn (8th Grade Boys).
The Marshall County team, independent riders from Marshall County and Livingston County Composite team members practice together three times a week on various local trails including the Bo Beckett Memorial Trail at Kentucky Dam Village State Park, the Canal Loop Trail at LBL and the Livingston County Trail System.
Ralph Jennings is in his second year as head coach of the Marshall County team. Jourdan Palmeri is team director and is in her seventh season with the team. Bryce Eichelberger is head coach of the newly formed Livingston County Composite team. Kentucky League Directors are former Marshall County head coach Steve Beckett and Denile Hill of Lexington.
Marshall County results:
Varsity Girls – 1st Presleigh Jennings
Varsity Boys – 3rd Chase Binkley
JV Girls – 2nd Claire Austin, 4th Evie Powell
JV Boys – 3rd Memphis Ford, 8th Wade Driver, 9th Chase Yarbrough
Sophomore Boys – 1st Owen Lepisto, 3rd Eli Rudd
Freshman Girls – 1st Emma Roberts, 2nd Addison Roberts
Freshman Boys – 1st Brady Atkins
8th Grade Boys – 1st Aiden Penn, 8th Gannon Declue, 13th Avery Criswell
7th Grade Girls – 2nd Amelia Miller
7th Grade Boys – 17th Steven Vibbert, 21st Max Dittman, 26th Adam Miller
6th Grade Boys – 8th Nate Boone
Independent riders from Marshall County results:
JV Girls – 3rd Aniston Barnes
JV Boys – 6th Landon Gipson
Freshman Boys – 2nd Jeremiah Lawrence
Livingston County Composite results:
Freshman Boys – 16th Elijah Eichelberger
8th Grade Boys – 15th Graham Rhea
7th Grade Boys – 4th Nathan Downs, 6th Sam Eichelberger
