A championship season doesn’t happen overnight.

This winter, Nightingale’s varsity indoor track & field team captured its first-ever NYSAIS title with a commanding 29-point lead over a field of 26 schools. The win was historic—not just for the margin, but for what it represented: seasons of quiet, determined progress.

That kind of progress didn’t just build skill—it shaped identity. For many athletes on the team, track hadn’t always been the obvious path. But over time—through tough workouts, relay handoffs, and shared moments at meets—they discovered a love for running, jumping, and competing together. What began as something they tried became something they couldn’t imagine giving up.

“We have always had a few athletes with a lot of talent who really buy into the sport, and by that I mean who really understand that being good in track and field requires commitment, consistency and hard work,” said Coach Hallie Nicoll. “So, since I’ve been coaching varsity, we have seen great individual performances, but not a ton of success as a whole team. I would say a big turning point was last fall, when I saw an influx of ninth graders join the team. Our cross country team was the largest it had ever been, and these athletes quickly formed a very strong bond with the more seasoned athletes already on the team. They loved running together. They all worked very hard together, but they were able to find joy in the sport, and out of this they saw tons of improvement, and we had our best cross country season in over ten years.”

Coach Nicoll added that this continued into both the indoor season and outdoor season last year, where the teams also saw great success. “The team was young, but they had already bought into the process. They saw their success as a team from the previous season, and understood what it takes to win. And most importantly, doing well as a team became something that was more important to many of them than individual success.”

The result this season was a record-breaking performance. Jada C. ’25, a senior leader in the field events, took first place in the high jump and long jump and second in the triple jump. Her high jump of 5’4” broke both the Nightingale and NYSAIS records. Ashima B. ’26 led the way on the track, placing first in the 1000m and second in the 1500m. The 4x800m relay team of Emma D. ’26, Alexa C. ’27, Lennon C. ’29, and Audrey P. ’26 shattered the school record and earned a third-place finish.

“I originally started running to help improve in soccer, but in ninth grade, after my first season of running at Nightingale, I realized that running was something I really loved and wanted to chase success in,” said Ashima B. “I was truly drawn to the competitive and aspirational aspect of running—it is really you against yourself—and also loved the supportive, welcoming environment of the team.”

For many, this season felt like a payoff—not just for the winter, but for years of effort. These were athletes who had put in the work, stayed with the sport, and discovered that they belonged on the track. That realization gave the team a sense of purpose that showed in the way they trained, competed, and supported one another.

“When I entered Nightingale in ninth grade, I tried out for JV volleyball to help me make friends and meet my new classmates,” said Vivian Y. ’26. “I enjoyed the feeling of being on a team—gaining a built-in group of friends and coaches who all supported me—but I knew that volleyball wasn’t my thing.”

She joined track that winter and quickly realized it offered something unique. “When most people think about track, they see a very individual sport where every athlete runs alone. However, upon joining the track team, I quickly realized it is the exact opposite! During meets and even hard workouts, everyone is constantly cheering each other on and pushing them to give their very best. I think this raw, genuine, and unconditional support is so special and hard to find in any other sport.”

The team’s depth was a major factor. From sprint events to long-distance races, relays to shot put, Nightingale had athletes scoring in nearly every category. That range allowed the team to pull ahead early and maintain a commanding lead throughout the championship meet.

But the real story wasn’t just about points on a board. It was about a group of athletes who found confidence in their sport and in each other. At every practice and every meet, they built a culture of consistency and trust—a culture that carried them to the podium.

“I think that the more the team understands how each individual plays a role in the team’s success, the more successful we will be,” said Coach Nicoll. “We have lost league championships by just one point. Losses like that are just as powerful as the wins because it truly shows the athletes how every point scored matters… it’s not just about those first place points, it’s about those sixth, seventh, and eighth place points too.”

As the final results came in, it was clear this win hadn’t come out of nowhere. It was the result of steady progress, consistent effort, and a team that had been building toward this moment for a long time. They hit their stride—and finished strong.

This article recently appeared in the summer issue of The Blue Doors.