Jim Nelson had an impressive four-year record at Napa High School in cross country and track, and a successful tour of duty at the Air Force Academy that included more of the same. Scholastically, he was a member of the California Scholarship Federation for three years at NHS. He started his athletic career at Napa High as a freshman, winning Rookie of the Year in cross country, with a first place finish in the section’s meet frosh race and a spot on the MEL championship JV track team. Over the next three years in cross country, Nelson was named Most Valuable twice, was named to the All-MEL team three times and set course records at two state meets. As a senior, he received a Napa High School Coaches Award and was named Napa Register’s Fall Athlete of the Year. During the same period, Nelson’s record included MEL League championships in both 1600m and 3200m, setting a 3200 league record (9.26.9) in 1996. He also set a new cross country course record (14.47) and was MEL Champion. After graduation in 1996, Nelson received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he continued to perform in both cross country and track. He was team captain of both teams during his tenure at the Academy and continued to collect athletic awards. He became a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force after completing his Air Force Academy studies. He joins sister Danielle Nelson Parrish as the first brother-sister team to be inducted into the NHS Athletic Hall of Fame.
