The Rudy Mine Trails System has been selected as the host venue for the 2024 Kentucky Interscholastic Cycling League’s (KICL) State Championship Race. The event, titled “Reckonins’ & Revelins,” is expected to draw up to 300 middle and high school student-athletes, along with their families and coaches.
The race will take place on October 27, with practice rides scheduled for the day before.
Owensboro Parks & Recreation first connected with KICL through the Rudy Mine Composite Mountain Biking Team, which began using the trails for practice sessions in 2022. Founded by Katie and Keith Fenwick, James Sergent, and Tom Higdon, the team has since grown to include riders from grades 6-12.
Higdon is also the head coach of the Rudy Mine Composite Mountain Biking Team.
“This inaugural KICL race in Owensboro marks a significant milestone, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact it will have on our city, our sport, and the growth of our team,” he said.
Prospective participants are encouraged to email [email protected] to learn more about joining the team.
Planning for the event began in early January through a collaboration between Owensboro Parks & Recreation, local KICL Coach Tom Higdon, and KICL. Key discussions were led by KICL Executive Director Denile Hill and Race Director Shane Poynter.
“This picturesque trail system, nestled within a vibrant community, offers an ideal setting that we believe will resonate with KICL families,” Hill said.
Assessments were conducted by representatives of the Parks Department, the Rudy Mine biking team, and the Kentucky Mountain Biking Association to ensure that the trail system meets KICL’s rigorous standards.
KICL is a subsidiary of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) and was founded in 2019.
