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 to their first top-three finish at the Big West Track & Field Championships since 2014. Hannah Chau led the way, claiming runner-up honors in the steeplechase with a school-record 10:28.19 and placing third in the 10,000-meter run. Anna Vogtmann also took second in the 1500m, while Montgomery Allison (Steeple), Sameen Andar (10K) and Olivia Liuson (1500m) scored in their respective events.
In 2021, Nelson helped mentor Chau, who won the individual Big West title in the 10K. Chau crossed the finish line in 34:53.13, which was the third-fastest winning time in Big West Championship history. She became the Anteaters' first conference champion in the 10K since 2002, and moved up to fourth on UCI's all-time charts.
Nelson also helped coach Chau to All-Big West honors in cross country in 2019 and 2021. The 2020 outdoor track & field and cross country seasons were canceled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nelson came to UCI after eight years coaching cross country at Roseville Area High School in Minnesota. During her tenure, she coached six state teams, placing as high as fifth in 2011. Her team also placed second five times in the Suburban East Conference Championship meet, and secured a top three finish every year in the Section 4AA meet. She was selected as the Section 4AA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2016.
In 2017, Nelson worked with the University of Wisconsin-Superior track and field program, helping the men’s team earn a first-place finish at the 2017 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Championship indoor and outdoor meet. She also coached the women’s team to a second and third-place finish at the 2017 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Championship indoor and outdoor meets, respectively.
Nelson is a USATF Level I certified coach.
Nelson graduated from the University of Minnesota where she competed on the cross country and track and field teams. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Sociology, and a minor in Spanish.
