Nichole Barger, senior, Cumberland
Nichole is the top returnee for the 600 meters, an event she
was third at the state meet last year with a best of 1:38.49. But the Clipper
standout is capable of also placing with the best in the 1,000m and/or the
1,500m. After a breakthrough cross-country season where she improved on her
best by nearly a minute and placed ninth at the state meet with a PB of 19:08
for the 5K distance, it wouldn’t come as a surprise that Nichole competes more
in the longer races than she has in the past. She’s capable of running the
1,000 in the low three-minute range or faster and has done 4:47 for the 1,500m,
a time she could improve greatly this indoor season.