Michael Fox split time between running and swimming at Shelbyville High School.

When he enrolls at Manchester University this fall, the Shelbyville senior will focus exclusively on running.

On Wednesday in the Golden Bear Room at Shelbyville High School, Fox, the son of Richard and Lynn Fox, signed his letter of intent in front of friends and family to attend Manchester and compete in cross country and track and field.

“I want to focus on one sport,” said Fox. “I think in high school I might have gotten a little better if I focused on one sport. So in college, I want to be the best that I can at one sport.”

Manchester’s Pharmacy program was too good to pass up for Fox.

“I looked into their Pharmacy program and it looked really appealing and I met their (cross country coach) and I think it’s a good fit for what I want to do in college,” he said.

Fox also cited the athletic environment at Manchester as a drawing point.

“I think because it’s a smaller team and that is what I’m used to … their coaches care about each individual a lot where other programs focus on certain people, the best varsity guys,” said Fox. “I feel like I will be focused on individually. I think that will work out for me.”

Fox was a four-time regional qualifier in cross country and has set a goal to reach the regional round in the track and field state tournament later this year.

“I want to drop a lot of time in the two-mile (3,200 meters) in track and make it to the regional,” he said.

The distance events will be what he specializes in at Manchester, running the 8,000-meter distance in cross country and 5,000 meters in track and field events.

Fox is nearing the end of his Golden Bears swimming career. The postseason starts next week. Then he can focus on one last year running as a Golden Bear followed by a summer of training to prepare for the jump to college.

“I think I’m ready,” he said.