Red Wolves - IU East

EATON, Ohio - The purple and gold banner in the background and the crimson and black cloth on the table symbolized this day of transition for Cory McKinney.

McKinney, a senior at Eaton (Ohio) High School, signed a letter of intent to compete in track and field for Indiana University East starting with the 2010-11 school year.

Eaton's purple and gold school colors mixed with IU East's crimson and black colors during a signing ceremony for McKinney on May 25.

McKinney, who will compete in shot put, discus, hammer throw and perhaps javelin, is the first track and field-only athlete from Ohio to sign with IU East.

The Red Wolves will field a full track and field team for the first time during the 2010-11 school year.

"My cousin (Rick McKinney) got me looking at IU East," Cory said. "I learned they had a track and field team, which was good.

"Hopefully I can make some good friends and build some good relationships with the coaches. I definitely would like to throw far and be one of the top guys on the track team."

McKinney has personal bests of 54-11.75 in the shot put, 152-7 in the discus and 140-4 in the hammer throw.

McKinney won the shot put and finished third in the discus throw in an Ohio Division II district meet at West Milton earlier this month.

He will compete in the regional meet this week with a chance to cap his high school career with a trip to the Ohio state meet. He is the top seed for the shot put competition.

McKinney finished sixth in the weight throw and 14th in the shot put in the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Division II/III Indoor Track & Field State Championships in March.

McKinney earned recognition for all-around excellence as one of 18 finalists for the Anthony Munoz Foundation Straight 'A' award.

The program recognizes students in the Cincinnati region who display "Academic excellence, Athletic achievement, and an Active role in the community while possessing a strong Ambition, a winning Attitude and the ability to overcome Adversity."

McKinney's award application explained how he coped with a learning disability through high school and how he dealt with his mother's bout with H1N1 flu and double pneumonia.

Cory is the son of Shari McKinney and Eaton track coach Randy McKinney.

He plans to major in business with an eye toward a career in sports management.

McKinney's signing ceremony took place in the Eaton High School lobby so family and friends could share the moment.

The McKinney family wished to thank Eaton athletic director Todd Grimm, Eaton throws coach Scott Burnett, Eaton sprints and hurdles coach Dorothy Stoltz, Eaton jumps and pole vault coach Rick McCollum and Eaton volunteer coaches Donnie Caylor, Liz Ayers and Nick Boomershine