Kangas signs with UAFS

By Kevin Taylor

Alma Schools

Not all makes and models are the same.

Nevaeh Kangas is living proof of that.

The Alma senior doesn’t present herself as the average long-distance runner - someone close to six feet tall with long strides.

But that didn’t keep her from fulfilling a dream.

Wednesday, she signed with the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith to compete in the school’s growing cross country program.

“It means the world to me to be able to compete at the next level,” Kangas said. “It’s taking the next step in achieving my ultimate goal of pursuing my degree.”

It’s a big deal for Alma High School, too.

“It’s huge,” track coach Joey Potts said. “You can look at her picture on the wall and say, ‘If she can do it, anybody can do it.’ It’s big.”

“From where I started, to where I am, it’s been a big journey,” Kangas said. “My dad (Scott) has been able to push me a lot, but it’s mostly been a lot of work.

Potts remembers watching Kangas as a seventh grader, competing in the River Valley Conference track meet at Southside High School.

“I remember thinking, ‘Holy Cow.’ But she just got better every meet, and she’s done it her whole career, especially in junior high,” Potts said. “From where she started, until the end of that year, and to where she is now, the growth is tremendous.

“It’s just because of her work ethic.”

First-year Alma cross country coach Matthew Melton was just as surprised at Kangas’s stature the first time he met her last summer.

“I wouldn’t have guessed that's who I had heard about,” Melton said. “But after seeing her in practice, when she’s keeping up with the boys in her workouts, it all made sense then.”

Kangas picked UAFS over Arkansas Tech and the University of Arkansas. “At the very end, it was kind of tough,” she said. “At the same time, it was pretty simple, too.”

“It says a lot about the culture we’re trying to build here,” Melton said. “Neveah’s kind of set the expectations of what runners can do, and they can follow in her footsteps. If you put in the work, results will come.”