Calla Nelson

Biography

Calla Nelson joined UC Irvine in 2018 as the Anteaters' assistant cross country/distance coach. Since Nelson’s arrival on campus, the ‘Eaters have produced eight All-Big West awards in cross country and eight in track & field. They have boasted two of the last four women’s 10,000-meter champions. This past season, Sameen Andar and Lukas Amare made the All-Big West Cross Country Team for the second year in a row. Andar, Amare and Anna Vogtmann also received Big West Athlete of the Week honors during the season. On the track, Andar had a podium finish in the 10,000m at the conference meet, while Vogtmann (1500m), Amare (10K) and Joshua Schuld (Steeplechase) also scored in their respective events. Andar qualified for her second career NCAA West Preliminary in the 10K. In 2022-23, the Anteaters produced three All-Big West Track & Field awards and two NCAA qualifying marks in the distance events. Sameen Andar was the 2023 Big West champion in the women's 10,000-meter and finished third in the 5,000-meter. Hannah Chau also placed third in the steeplechase. Andar and Evelin Meza both advanced to the NCAA West Regional meet in the 10K. During the fall, the UCI women's cross country squad took second at the Big West Championships, coming in one point behind Cal Poly. Anna Vogtmann, Andar and Chau earned all-conference honors on the women's side, while Lukas Amare was an All-Big West performer on the men's side. In 2022, the women's distance crew totaled 31 points to help the 'Eaters t