Colton Cohen, a Bonners Ferry High School runner, has committed to Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri, where he will compete in cross country and track at the NAIA level. 

Though many athletes train for most of their lives in their sport, Cohen began running track and field in the spring of 2024, less than two years ago. 

“I started running my sophomore year for track,” Cohen said. “I just wanted a sport to do.” 

He explained what he enjoys most about running. 

“When you hit that PR, or you get that certain place in a race, especially when you aren’t exactly sure it’s going to happen, it’s such a great feeling to experience and I want to experience it over and over again,” Cohen said. “That’s just one of my big motivations for running.” 

Cohen said the running program at Missouri Valley College is on the rise and added that the opportunity still feels unreal. 

“They’re just working on building their program up, trying to develop into a team that really can compete with the others in the conference,” Cohen said. 

Cohen said he plans to study exercise science with the goal of becoming an athletic trainer. 

“My big dream would be to be a trainer in the NBA or for professional track athletes,” Cohen said. “That would be amazing.” 

Two years ago, Cohen said he had no idea he would be on the path he is currently following. 

“I didn’t know what exactly I wanted to study,” Cohen said. “I didn’t expect to be able to go to college to run.” 

During this past cross-country season, Cohen suffered compression fractures in both hips, which limited his training and cut his season short. 

“It happened late August and I got X-rays and an MRI in September,” Cohen said. “They told me it’s a three-to-six-month recovery, so I’ve just been cross-training. I’m hoping I’ll be back by February so I can start running before practices start.” 

“I’ve got a high standard for myself and what I want to do,” Cohen said. “The main focus with me and my coach is just getting me back and healthy.” 

The injury came just months before the traditional signing period for high school athletes, making the setback especially difficult. 

“After I got injured in the beginning of the cross country season, it felt like the end of the world,” Cohen said. “I was looking forward to being a staple and helping support my team and helping us do the best we could this season.” 

Cohen said the running community has been a major source of support since he began competing, including runners from Timberlake, who are his on-field rivals. 

“Most of the runners you meet, they’re some of the nicest people and are very supportive,” Cohen said. “We’re competitive out on the field, but then afterwards, it’s like family.” 

Cohen also shared advice for younger athletes. 

“You’ve got to believe in yourself and what you can do,” Cohen said. “No matter what happens, if you don’t run the time you want, if you don’t get the place you want, it’s all a part of the journey.”

“There’s always going to be someone with something negative to say about you,” he said. “If you take that to heart, then you’ve already let them win. Don’t let those people win.” 

He credited his family and supporters for helping him reach this point. 

“I’d have to really just thank my family — my mom, my dad and my little brother — they’re my biggest supporters,” Cohen said. “Through all the struggles, they’ve helped me and been there to support me. They’re really happy that I found something I’m this dedicated to and are excited to see what I do next.” 

“I want to thank everyone that supported me,” Cohen said. “I appreciate all of the people that have believed in me and helped me get to the point where I am today.” 

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to revisit some of the stories that resonated most across Vestavia Hills. These aren’t just top clicks or biggest headlines — they’re pieces that captured something real about the people, places and moments that defined the year.

Ethan Strand is the talk of the U.S. track and field scene this year — and he shows no signs of slowing down.

The Vestavia Hills native and University of North Carolina standout shattered the NCAA indoor mile record at the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic on Feb. 1, clocking 3 minutes, 48.32 seconds. In doing so, he became the first NCAA runner to break the 3:50 barrier indoors, surpassing the previous record of 3:50.39 set by Cooper Teare in 2021.

His performance now ranks among the fastest indoor miles in world history. As if it wasn’t clear before, when Strand set an NCAA mark in the 3,000 meters, it became undeniable — a new superstar is on the rise in U.S. track.

A CHAMPION’S BEGINNINGS

At Vestavia Hills High School, Strand was a two-time Alabama Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year, winning multiple championships and setting numerous records.

As a junior, he won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races at the Class 7A state outdoor meet while anchoring the 4×800 relay team to a second-place finish. In the 800 meters, he clocked a personal-best 1:54.52 to win the state title, contributing to a runner-up team finish. That same year, he ran a blistering 4:11 mile at the Music City Distance Carnival, making him one of the nation’s top high school milers.

That drive continued into college, where he rapidly evolved into one of the most versatile distance runners in the country. His ability to compete across multiple events — 1,500 meters, 3,000 meters, and now the mile — has made him a major force in NCAA track and field.

A DEFINING PERFORMANCE

Strand’s record-breaking run at the Terrier Classic wasn’t just another race — it was a statement. Competing against a mix of elite collegiate and professional athletes, he demonstrated not only speed but also tactical intelligence beyond his years.

“I checked the clock with two laps to go and thought, ‘OK, if I close well, I’m going to run really fast,’” Strand recalled on Carolina Insider.

The race started at a blistering pace, with the leaders passing the 800-meter mark in 1:53. Strand stayed patient, moving up strategically. With two laps remaining, he was in third behind Robert Farken of On Athletics Club and Adam Fogg of Under Armour Baltimore Distance. As the final bell rang, he surged ahead, breaking away down the backstretch and crossing the finish line with arms outstretched in celebration.

“I didn’t quite know what today was going to be,” Strand told reporters after the race. “I just wanted to get a qualifier in for nationals, but to come out and run that was pretty cool.”

RIVALRY FUELS GREATNESS

A major factor in Strand’s rapid rise has been his rivalry-turned-partnership with North Carolina teammate Parker Wolfe. The two have pushed each other in training and competition, creating an environment where each runner continues to elevate his performance.

“When Parker and I are on the track and it’s just the two of us, we’re very competitive,” Strand said on Carolina Insider. “We absolutely treat each other as competitors, but when it comes down to it, we’re trying to beat everyone else first. And if it’s just the two of us left at the end, then yeah, we’re going to go at it.”

Their duel for the NCAA 3,000-meter record was a prime example. Both runners shattered the previous collegiate best, with Strand edging Wolfe in an epic final lap.

“I took a step up in fitness coming into the fall, and I think that showed in the 3K with Parker,” Strand said. “We ran six seconds faster than any collegian ever has.”

UNC head coach Chris Miltenberg believes the two are more than just standout collegiate athletes.

“Every day, I think I’m looking at the next two great American distance runners — Ethan Strand and Parker Wolfe,” Miltenberg said. “These guys are not just NCAA stars. They are the future of U.S. distance running.”

A STAR AMONG PROS

Strand’s rising stardom was on full display when he was honored at a North Carolina basketball game following his record-breaking run. As he walked onto the court at the Dean Smith Center, he received a roaring ovation from thousands of Tar Heel fans — proof that his accomplishments are being recognized far beyond the track.

His breakthrough mile also made waves beyond the NCAA ranks, catching the attention of professional runners. His time placed him third on the all-time indoor mile list at the time, but it didn’t take long for the pros to respond. Shortly after, Norwegian superstar Jakob Ingebrigtsen set a new world-best mark, demonstrating how Strand’s emergence is helping push the entire sport forward.

His rapid rise raises intriguing questions about what comes next. With two NCAA records under his belt, he faces a crucial decision about how to structure the remainder of his collegiate career and his approach to the NCAA Championships.

“This opens up so many more opportunities,” Strand said. “After the 1,500 last year, I was ninth in the Olympic Trials final. That made me think maybe I need to take a step up and focus on different events. And now, the mile is in play. I don’t really know yet, but whatever combination helps us score the most points, that’s what I’ll do.”

THE ROAD AHEAD

As a senior, Strand is entering the final stretch of his collegiate career, with major championships on the horizon. The NCAA indoor championships, set for March 14-15 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, will be his next big test. Then comes the outdoor season, culminating in the NCAA outdoor championships from June 11-14 in Eugene, Oregon.

For now, Strand remains focused on the present. The NCAA championships loom, offering another chance to prove himself against the best in collegiate running. Beyond that, the transition to professional running seems inevitable, with U.S. Olympic team aspirations likely forming in the back of his mind.

“When you finish a race and do better than you ever have, it’s a feeling you can’t beat,” Strand said. “The only way to get that feeling again is to do it again.”

Strand credits his time at UNC and the guidance of Miltenberg with helping him see his future beyond college.

“He told me, ‘We’re going to get you here, you’re going to run really fast, and we’re going to set you up for the next seven or eight years after college.’ That’s why I came here,” Strand said.

From Vestavia Hills to Chapel Hill and beyond, Strand’s journey is just beginning.

Franck Charles ’16 has turned Virginia Union University’s Track & Field and Cross Country programs into a model of excellence both on and off the track, earning him the Triad of Excellence Award from the John W. Barco Alumni Chapter.

The award honors alumni who demonstrate leadership, service and dedication to the university’s mission while serving as role models for students and the community. 

Under Charles’ leadership, the Panthers have excelled in competition and community engagement. This semester, student-athletes volunteered at Kings Dominion multiple times and donated canned goods to support families in Haiti. Two team members, Gabrielle Olukoya and Mychael Tucker, received scholarships from the Barco Alumni Chapter, joining last year’s recipients Christal Rolack and Toni Middlebrooks. 

Charles said the recognition reflects the collective effort of his athletes and coaching staff, who prioritize success both on the field and in the classroom. He emphasized the importance of pursuing scholarships, limiting student debt and preparing for careers after graduation. 

“This award is not just about me; it belongs to our entire Cross Country and Track & Field family,” Charles said. 

Full caption: Priest River High senior setter Jayda Storro was named to the 3A All-State Honorable Mention Team as the results were released recently by the Idaho State Journal newspaper in Pocatello. Players are chosen by the state’s coaches via a voting system put together by Brandon Walton, Sports Editor of the paper. Storro, a three-year varsity starter and the 2025 Central Idaho League MVP, helped the Lady Spartans clinch their first state playoff berth since 2015. Under Storro’s leadership, Priest River finished with an overall record of 17-5, one of the winningest years in school history.

Michael Lehmkuhle

Correspondent

Updated Dec. 24, 2025, 12:42 a.m. ET

Newark Catholic’s Dylan Daube attempts a layup against Bishop Rosecrans’ Kohen Harris during the host Green Wave’s 71-52 victory on Dec. 23, 2025.

Michael Lehmkuhle/The Advocate