The Nederland High School Track and Field team had another fantastic season in 2024. “The size of the team continues to grow and the level of our athletes continues to improve,” shared Coach Gavin Coombs.
This season athletes competed in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 1600 meters, 3200 meters, hurdles, high jump, long jump, and shot put. Meet after meet, the athletes were setting personal records and continued to improve throughout the season.
Coombs said, “There were four athletes who qualified for post-season races: Eric Thurston, Abby Hess, Amika Begin, and River LeMaster. For the first time in several years we had two girls qualify for the State Meet, with Amika Begin qualifying in the 3200 and River LeMaster in the high jump. River was also named as the Foothill League Track Athlete of the Year for winning the 300 meter hurdles and the high jump at the Foothill League Championship and set school records in both events.”
Begin and LeMaster were both freshmen at Nederland High School this year. As the school year was ending they were gearing up for the Colorado High School Track and Field State Championships at Jefferson County Stadium in Lakewood.
Both athletes had to get through some nerves on the day of their event. Though the meet was not far from home physically, as isolated young athletes from a small school in a pool of mostly older representatives of much larger schools, they faced daunting competition. Nonetheless, they stayed focused and driven, and they showed grit.
When talking about running the 3200, Begin shared, “During warmups I was smiling the whole time because it was pretty cool to be on this big track with lots of people in the stands….I just had to focus on staying with the girls ahead of me. The race was very tough because it was very hot and all the girls split up right in the beginning so I was by myself for most of the race, which meant I had to push myself and be in my own head rather than relying on other people.”
She said that during the first mile she felt very strong. While running the second mile, Begin said it was getting hot and she was getting tired. She added, “I must have been doing something right though because I managed to pass three girls.”
Begin stated, “Overall I am so happy to have had the experience.”
LeMaster finished 13th in high jump and Begin finished 14th in the State in the 2A division – fantastic achievements to be proud of.
Both LeMaster and Begin believe this experience will make them better prepared for next year.
Coombs is excited about the freshman coming onto the team next season, and the experience and consistency that is continuing to make up the Nederland High School Track and Field team.
