Pulaski County’s Bucey-Card Runs Personal Best at State Cross Country Championships

SALEM, Va. — Pulaski County’s lone state qualifier, sophomore Nina Bucey-Card, closed out her season with a personal-best performance Saturday at the VHSL Class 3 State Cross Country Championships at Green Hill Park.

Bucey-Card, who earned her spot by placing 11th at the Region 3D Championships, finished 53rd out of 100 runners in 20:59.20, the fastest 5K of her career and more than 19 seconds faster than her previous best of 21:18.32.

Cool, breezy conditions greeted the field on the flat, mostly grass course. Bucey-Card made the most of the favorable conditions in her first state championship appearance.

“It takes strong legs and a sound mind to compete at this level,” Pulaski County head coach Jared Smith said. “Nina has worked hard all season, and I couldn’t be more proud of her. Getting to states is a big accomplishment, and running a PR there is a testament to her dedication and hard work all season long.”

With cross-country courses varying in terrain and difficulty, progress doesn’t always follow a straight line. Sometimes it can feel like you’re growing sideways. But Bucey-Card kept building, and Saturday it showed. Competing among the state’s best offered a new perspective on what she can accomplish.

With two more high school cross-country seasons ahead, there’s every reason to believe Bucey-Card is gonna go far.