Former Fountain Valley Cross Country Star Takes to International Trail

When Team USA competes in Scotland this week at the second Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country International Challenge, among the elite competitors traveling with the team will Fountain Valley Baron alumnus Bethany Nickless, who has been a crowd pleaser since beginning her running career at Fountain Valley.

A favorite in every race she entered, Nickless made every race exciting, continuing her scholastic running at The University of California at Santa Barbara. She currently competes at the post-collegiate level, with a club team, Adidas Legacy Run Racing.

The International Challenge Races will take place on Jan. 7 and feature teams from the United States, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as a select European team. Events include races for both men and women running in junior and senior divisions, with Nickless competing as a member of the senior women's team.

"So many thoughts and emotions are going through my head," Nickless said. "But ultimately, what it comes down to is that I am going there to compete. No one cares about feelings and emotions once you step foot on the line. I will wear the USA jersey, I will wear it with pride, and I will compete to the best of my ability."

During this fall's cross country/road racing season, Nickless finished second overall and first in the women's division at the Long Beach 5K in October, third woman in the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K, and set personal best times at both races. She finished 10th overall at the Club Cross Country National 6K Championships in Seattle on Dec. 10, marking another personal best time.

Nickless's plans for the fall season were to condition in preparation for her goal of making it to the Olympic Trials in the Steeplechase in June. Instead, she achieved her life-long goal of representing the United States at an international competition.