June 27, 2001
Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky head track and field coach Dr. Curtiss Long announced that he has signed Bowling Green High School standout Cara Nichols. Nichols will join the Lady Topper squad for the 2001-02 season.
Nichols, who ran for coach Ron Skillern at BGHS, was runner-up in the mile at the 2001 KHSAA state meet, while finishing third in the 800-meter run. She is the class 2A state record holder in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11:19.69, and is the 1997 and 1998 champion in the 3,200. She also won the 3,000-meter run at the Mason Dixon Games three straight years from 1997-99.
Nichols also excelled in cross country where she was Kentucky Female Runner of the Year in both 1997 and 1998 and a first-team all-state selection from 1997-99. She was also a class 2A state champion in 1998 and runner-up in 1999.
"Cara is a great competitor," said Long. "She has the desire and determination to help us immediately in the Sun Belt Conference.
She has also excelled in the classroom, finishing her prep career with a 4.0 grade point average and ranked 11th in her class. Nichols was also named Cross Country Academic All-State in 1997, 98 and 99.
