November 18, 1998

LEXINGTON, Kty. — Casey Combest has signed a national letter of intent to run track at the University of Kentucky, track and field coach Don Weber has announced. Combs, a senior at Owensboro High School, won the Kentucky Invitational last season in the 55-meter dash when he ran a 6.22, the fastest time in the nation.

He followed up the effort by winning the National Scholastic Indoor Championship with a 6.74 in the 60-meter dash. Track Digest called the effort the “Performance of the Year.”

“Casey is the most accomplished male high school track and field athlete that the University of Kentucky has ever signed,” Weber said. “Similar to Tim Harden, former three-time NCAA Champion and 1996 Olympic Silver Medallist, Casey’s competitive nature has been proven in his ability to perform his very best at the championships meets.”

Other honors from his junior season include a silver medal in the 4×100 meter relay at the World Junior (under-19) Championships in Annecy, France, and being named to the High School All-American Track and Field team for the 100-meter dash. He also won three Kentucky State championships in the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, and the 4×100-meter relay as a junior, and won the 100-meter state title as a sophomore.