This year included the largest number of track students that head track coach Sara Bray has taken to the state meet in the last five years she’s directed the Mustangs. On the combined team, made up of Nucla and Norwood teens, Bray took 10 to Denver over the weekend to compete at the state level, after kids qualified in various events.
Cadence Shaw had qualified in three events: the one-mile, two-mile and the 4x8 relay race. Shaw came away with sixth place in the one-mile and fourth place in the two-mile. Coach said it’s competitive in the distance league, and Shaw ran really well. In fact, she set personal records in both events at state.
The girls in the 4x8 relay team — Shaw, Sydney Tomlinson, Kieley Sheparadon and Amber Bockrath — remain state qualifiers. Bray said the ladies ran hard, but didn’t make it to the podium.
Shepardson also qualified for the open 800-meter race. She didn’t medal, but coach is pleased to see her qualify for the state meet in an individual event.
“It’s huge to make it there,” Bray said. “”For mid-distance, they only take the Top 12 teams for 1A.”
She estimated there to be 50 to 60 schools competing at the Mustang’s level.
Drake Long qualified in the 110-meter hurdles and the high jump. He came away sixth in hurdles with a big personal record and fourth in the high jump, marking 5”11’.
Austin Garvey qualified in the high jump and got third at state, marking 6”1’.
And, the boys 4x100 relay team, who also had every member competing in high school baseball at the same time and had only competed in four track meets, medaled. Brycen Rummel, Owen Tackett, Cole Bray and Daniel Zunich earned the bronze, third place.
Bray said the guys’ excitement was fun to watch. They missed second place by two 10ths of a second. Bray said the guys made it to regionals in basketball and baseball — and then state for track and came away as medalists. She’s thrilled for them.
She added the atmosphere at the state meet is “awesome” with all schools, 1A through 5A, competing at the same time.
“They watched it all,” she said. “(The big schools) have trained coaches and pick the best of the best athletes. They have tracks to run on. Watching that level is mind-blowing — and mind-opening.”
Bray said the students are already talking about next year’s goals.
She added the experience was really good for coaches too, and she appreciates her assistant Rachel McNiel, a former college thrower who’s an asset to the Mustang staff, along with Keoni Souza, a critical team member who’s taken on high jump.
She’s additionally grateful for the middle school program, under the leadership of Megan Urban and Lisa Ross. She said they’re building that younger program up, and it does support varsity track for high school kids. She said students who never thought of participating are doing so, and it’s a great thing.
“We have a lot of really talented athletes,” Bray said. “We are small and rural, so we are thankful we get to showcase these kids. They work hard.”
It should be noted Nucla has no track facilities. Students practice by running down roads and/or around their football field, which is not even a full 400 meters.
“We do the best we can with what we have,” Bray said.
