An Eagle Valley senior and 3-sport star is leaving her own unique mark on the Devils track program

From its record-setters of the late 70s —Tia Ross, Tammie Smith and Nancy Gates — to state champion sisters Joslin and Samantha Blair, the Eagle Valley girls track team has produced a healthy share of special athletes through the decades. When it’s all said and done, Lily Brueck’s name might belong in the pantheon of great Devils, too.

The three-sport athlete guided Eagle Valley to back-to-back league basketball titles and was the cornerstone of its softball team last fall. On the track, Brueck has blossomed into a legitimate podium threat in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and 100 and 300 hurdles at any Western Slope meet. Her range allows her to jump in any relay, even the 4×800.

The senior would like to be remembered, however, not just for her performances on game day, but her work ethic — every day.

“It always just comes down to who shows up the most and puts in all their effort,” she said after winning the 300 hurdles at her last home invitational on April 4. “And I think I do a pretty good job of that.”

Brueck didn’t post a personal best in her latest victory, but still left satisfied after teasing the 47-second barrier. She also ran to runner-up honors in the 100 hurdles (16.14) and picked up a bronze in the 200 (26.62). In the final event of the day, Brueck took the baton from fellow sprint stud Wynn Sanders in the mixed 4×400-meter relay.

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Halfway through the meet, the class of 2026 was honored for its dedication to the track and field program.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet I guess,” Brueck said of saying goodbye after four years. “I got to get my stuff from my old teammates. It’s nice remembering Allie Braun from last year, all the memories I had with her here. It’s bittersweet for sure. I’m going to miss it a lot.”

Eagle Valley is scheduled to compete on Friday in Glenwood Springs before heading up valley for the Battle Mountain Invitational on Tuesday. The Western Slope championships are in New Castle on April 30 and May 1 and the state championships are in Lakewood from May 14-16.

The senior’s breakout race came in the 300-hurdles at state last year — the first time she’d run in an individual event at the championships. After coming into her junior campaign with a personal best time of 48.54 seconds, Brueck busted out a 45.89 to advance to the finals, where she finished eighth. The top-tier competition was invigorating.

“For me, it just pushed me way more. I wasn’t intimidated — more like inspired I guess,” Brueck said. “I have confidence I can compete at that level. It’s just all about putting in all my training through the season, having trust in what I’ve been working on.”

One unique element of her regimen: 400-meter hurdle reps. Head coach Jeff Shroll was thrilled to have collegiate markings painted onto the new track surface in Gypsum and had his hurdlers running extra distance in early-season intervals.

“Nobody likes me this year,” Shroll said with a smile in an interview back in March. “But it’s paying dividends. I think that’s going to help the conditioning for Lily and (fellow 300-meter hurdlers) Hudson Wyatt and Erick (Soltvedt) tremendously.”

Brueck has noticed at least one benefit so far.

“After running an extra 100 meters, the 3s feel a little shorter,” she said.

Brueck isn’t sure if this spring is her official swan song. A few NAIA and DIII track programs have noticed her, but she hasn’t made any firm college decisions yet. In terms of her high school legacy, though, Brueck hopes she’s passed on the blueprint for other blue collar athletes.

“I like to think I set an example for my younger teammates,” she said. “Hopefully they know that if you put your whole heart into it, it will show up on the track.”