Bethlehem Catholic and DeSales University graduate Nicole Chickey was named the new Becahi head cross country coach on July 30, replacing Kelly Bracetty who will coach at Emmaus.

Chickey is a 2008 graduate of Becahi who won four PIAA state medals and 12 District XI gold medals throughout her high school running career. She also holds two MVP trophies and has been an assistant coach for the Hawks’ track and field team for two years.

“This will be a new challenge for me,” said Chickey. “I loved doing cross country at Beca. Ralph Yeager was a great coach, and I want to follow in his footsteps.”

Chickey credits Yeager and her other coaches for pushing her to succeed.

“They pushed me to the brink. They knew my ability. What made me advance was a good program,” she said. “Distance running is different because there are uphills and downhills, and you need a running strategy. It’s a very mental sport to run three miles.”

Chickey continued her running career at DeSales until her sophomore year when a car accident put that on hold. Now, she plans to take what she learned from Yeager and impart that on a new team of Hawks.

“I can work with their strengths and weaknesses, but all-in-all, I see us working as a team,” Chickey said.