Head coach for the Mustangs, Sara Bray told the Forum there are 17 athletes on on the roster this year, including a few veterans who have returned, several new kids and a “slew of freshmen.”
“It's been a great group, and so fun to watch them all developing into track stars,” she said.
Assisting her this year is Coach Rachel McNiel, a thrower by trade but who also spent many hours this last summer learning about sprinting, jumping and weightlifting.
“She is a huge asset to the team, and we work great together,” Bray said.
It’s a different year this year, with Norwood not joining the Nucla kids for track to combine.
“The obvious things are just missing the athletes I had been working with, and the fact that we don't have our relay teams anymore,” she said. “This team is very young, so it kind of feels like starting over, versus when we were combined.”
Bray said she’s used to having experienced athletes to help out, but she remains thankful for the kids she’s got.
Regarding those relays, Nucla is still able to field a girls 4x8 relay and a boys 4x2 relay.
“We could have been dynamite in both with a combined team, but I'm proud of the work our team is putting in to try and qualify for state in a couple of relays,” she said.
Regionals are no longer a thing; the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) now uses a timing system solely for state qualifying.
“When we attend a ‘qualifying’ meet, our athletes’ times and distances are recorded in Milesplit and then transferred over to Maxpreps,” Bray explained. “For 1A, CHSAA takes the top nine times for laned events, the top 12 times for distance events, and the top 10 for field events, throwing and jumping.”
And, Bray does expect state qualifiers this year. Currently, Drake Long is qualified in the high jump and the 110-meter hurdles, Austin Garvey is qualified in the high jump, Cole Bray is qualified in long jump, and the girls 4x8 relay is qualified too.
“We know it's too early to tell for sure, as all of these events will change a lot in the next four weeks of track, but it's exciting to know that we have several pretty close,” she said.
She’s also keeping a "watch list" of athletes who have the potential to qualify, if they keep improving at a high rate. That includes Jared Fortune in the 400 meter, Cole Bray in the 800 meter, the Nucla boys 4x2 relay, Josey Herland in 400 meter and Kynnlie McCabe in 300-meter hurdles.
Though Nucla High School lacks an actual track, they were fortunate to get a high jump pit, new hurdles and a new long jump pit over the last couple of years. For running, they just use the grass or roads.
It’s been a good season so far for the kids and coaches, and Bray remains grateful.
“Personally, I am incredibly grateful for Coach Rachel,” she said. “I have waited a long time to coach with someone who is equally, if not more, passionate about track and field as I am. She's the real deal, and I love getting to coach with her. I'm also very grateful for the number of kids who came out this year. Not only are they a fun group to coach, but many are putting in the effort it takes to be a state qualifying athlete. It's incredible to watch them grow and excel.”
Bray did tell the Forum it’s her last year to coach track, however. She said between serving as principal at Nucla Elementary School and being a mom, she needs to step back.
“I have been incredibly blessed to get to work with some great people who helped us bring back a darn good track program to Nucla High School,” she said. “I will still be supporting the program as much as I can, but it will be from the cheering section more often than not. With Coach Rachel taking the helm, I have no doubts that the program will continue to be successful.”
