ASHLAND — Track and field star Chinwe Okoro continues to rack up big accolades.

The 2007 Russell graduate and University of Louisville product was selected as the Kentucky USATF Female Track & Field Athlete of the Year for 2012.

She was recognized at the KTCCCA/USATF Awards Banquet this past weekend in Louisville.

At Russell, Okoro was a three-time shot put champion. She kept performing at a high level at Louisville.

Some of her personal bests include a Big East conference record shot put throw of 17.39 meters and a 58.25-meter discus throw while at UofL.

In 2011, Okoro earned All-American honors at the NCAA Track and Field Championships and later won the Nigerian shot put national title.

All-Star Weekend

You thought the high school football season was over?

It carries on for some area standouts.

Both Fairview and Ashland will be represented in All-Star games this weekend as Cade O’Bryan (Ashland), Elijah King (Fairview) and Devon Turner (Fairview) will each suit up another time to try to increase that college stock.

O’Bryan and King will take part in the 2013 National Guard Border Bowl on Saturday at noon at the University of the Cumberlands’ James H. Taylor II Stadium in Williamsburg, Ky. The game pits some of the best high schoolers from Kentucky vs. those from Tennessee.

Team Kentucky’s head coach is Tom Larky from Harlan County.

For more information about the Border Bowl, visit www.ky-tn-borderbowl.com.

Turner takes a national stage as the two-time 1,000-yard rusher will be a member of the South squad in the Blue-Grey National All-Star Classic on Saturday night at 8.

The Fairview senior was one of 90 seniors chosen from more than 4,200 players who competed at regional combines last summer.

Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, serves as the host of the game, which can be viewed on www.foxsportsflorida.com.



Guiding MSU

Football

Morehead State’s football coaching staff is filling out with the addition of some intriguing hires.

Dontae Wright, formerly of Louisa, joined new head coach Rob Tenyer’s staff as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator this week.

“Dontae is originally from Eastern Kentucky and has strong recruiting ties to our service region,” Tenyer said.

Wright played four years at Miami (Ohio) and became a starting linebacker by his senior season in 2006. He then served as a graduate assistant for Kentucky from 2007-09.

Wright was an All-State football selection as a senior at Lawrence County High School.

Known for helping jumpstart Kentucky to a string of success in the mid-2000s, Andre Woodson was a graduate assistant at UK last season.

This past weekend, Tenyer announced that Woodson would coach Morehead State’s wide receivers next season.

Woodson was an outstanding quarterback as a Wildcat. He was a two-time All-SEC selection and led Kentucky to its first appearance in the top 10 since 1977.



Reds Caravan

Coming

The annual Cincinnati Reds Caravan will be hitting the Ashland area this month.

Three separate tours will visit various areas throughout Reds Country over the course of four days.

The Southern Tour will stop by Fannin Motors on Thursday, Jan. 24, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. The group includes broadcasters Jim Kelch and Jeff Brantley, infielder Todd Frazier, pitcher Logan Ondrusek, 2012 minor league Player of the Year Billy Hamilton, Vice President of Baseball Operations Dick Williams and mascots Rosie Red and Mr. Red.

Visit reds.com for more information.



Kentucky Opens

SEC Play

Vanderbilt has struggled badly this season, with blowout losses to both Marist and Oregon on its resume.

However, don’t let numbers fool you as Kentucky (9-4) opens SEC play tonight against the Commodores (6-6)

Memorial Gym is one of the toughest venues to play in and this is just the third true road game for the young and improving Cats. They’re 0-2 in the previous two — at Notre Dame and at Louisville.

AARON SNYDER can be reached at asnyder@dailyindependent.

com or (606) 326-2664.