Battle Mountain Track Teams Shine at Coal Ridge Invitational

"I'd prefer 85 degrees and sunny, but that's not what we're dealt with and competitors compete," Jeff Shroll says, his voice carrying across the snow-dusted track at Coal Ridge Invitational. The Devil's coach is talking to his team, but his words hang in the chilly air, a reminder that sometimes you just have to roll with what Mother Nature gives you. Fresh snow falls around us, a surreal backdrop for a track meet. It's cold.

The Battle Mountain and Eagle Valley track teams are no strangers to adverse conditions, having faced them in consecutive competitions. But that's not stopping them from pushing their limits and setting program bests. Shroll's squad is responding to his pep talk, claiming the boys' team title and finishing runner-up on the girls' side. Lily Brueck is a standout, winning the 300-hurdles by almost three seconds. Nora Abbot clears 7 feet, 8 inches to take the pole vault crown. Caelynn Jaramillo picks up silvers in both throws, her talent hereditary - her mom, dad, and older sister all found success in throws. Shroll nicknames her "115" after a recent practice toss flew well past the century mark, and credits assistants Jose Garcia, Roberto Cortez, and new event coach Mallory McDonald for helping Jaramillo along.

Here's the thing though: Jaramillo is just a freshman, and she's already making waves. She's currently the top-ranked ninth-grader in 4A, and her discus throw of 94-10 showcases her impressive potential. Picture this: a young athlete, whipping a discus through the air with a force that belies her age. And that matters because it shows that the next generation of track athletes is already making its mark.

While Eagle Valley's Wynn Sanders won both short sprints, Battle Mountain's Knox Holton finished second and third, respectively, and also cleared 11-05 for bronze in the vault. Holton's transformation is nothing short of remarkable - he spent three years running cross-country and played lacrosse until this spring, but has effectively transformed his body through weight training. His coach, Parish, is impressed, saying "He's just unbelievable... He's been able to translate that strength into sprinting speed, which has been really fun to watch." Parish even suggests that Holton could be a low-key, last-minute college decathlon recruit, given his potential in the pole vault, sprints, throws, and jumps.

Eden DeMino provides another highlight for the Huskies, hammering a 4×800 relay leg in the morning and then waiting out 30-degree temps to finish second in a personal best 2:28.61 for the open 800. Just 45 minutes later, she stuns her coach with an 11:20.56 in the 3,200-meters, a de facto time-trial that puts her seventh on the program's all-time list. "It's insane what she did," Parish says, still trying to process the feat.

The Coal Ridge Invitational may have been a chilly and snowy affair, but it's clear that the Battle Mountain and Eagle Valley track teams are heating up. Not exactly the conditions they were hoping for, but they're making the most of it. As the season enters its final stretch, it's going to be interesting to see what these athletes can accomplish. The snow may be falling, but their potential is limitless.

Knox Holton stands at the edge of the track, his eyes fixed on some point in the distance, his mind already turning to the next challenge. The snowflakes fall around him, each one unique, each one fleeting. He takes a deep breath, the cold air filling his lungs, and begins to run.