Eureka track and field teams return champions, contenders

The Eureka County High School track and field teams return a pair of 1A State Champions and the 2024-25 Nevada NFHS Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year in Gio Minoletti, who took over the program last season and led the Lady Vandals to their first state title since 2022. 

The 2025 Lady Vandals had three individual state champions in four events last season, and two of those athletes will return to defend their titles – sophomore Anna McKay and junior Brooke Watts. 

Watts won the 400 meters and 300-meter hurdles, while McKay won the 800-meter title. A knee injury will sideline McKay for the start of the season, but Minoletti and his staff are “being careful,” so she recovers fully and is at her best when it matters most.

“Julia Minoletti is our only senior this year, which is good because we’ll only lose the one at the end of the year,” Minoletti laughed. ECHS junior Shay Hooper also returns from last year’s 1A State Championship team.

Two freshmen joined the defending champs out of Eureka – Melissa Johnson, a long-distance runner, and Sophie Hassell, a sprinter and jumper. One new sophomore, Reagan Mello (throws and jumps), will join classmate Sophia Dickover on the roster.

“So far I’m really happy, and they’re competing hard in practice,” Coach Minoletti said of his squad that’s small in number but big in talent. “The girls are very well-rounded.”

The Eureka boys track and field team hasn’t had an individual state champion since 2022 and has never won a team title. The Vandals hope to change that with multiple State contenders returning for the 2026 season.

“Alex McKay placed last year at state in hurdles, and Joseph Minoletti was second at State in the high jump,” Coach Minoletti said. “Nathan Tudor, a sprinter, and Austin Zimmerman, a thrower, should also do well this year.”

Five of the 20 Vandal boys are seniors, including thrower Chris Bender, so this year’s squad has depth and leadership. Perhaps the most intriguing Vandal athlete is junior Russell Rowley, though.

“He’s really strong. He’s going to be a lot of fun to watch this year,” Minoletti commented. “He broke our school record but didn’t place at state, so he’s really hungry.”

The Vandal track and field teams will kick off the season at the Ken Jensen Invitational on Friday, March 13. Events start at 2:30 p.m. at Virgin Valley High School. ECHS will host its Eureka Invitational on Friday, April 10 at 10 a.m. The Junior High Invitational starts at 10 a.m. the next day.