Team WAR remains a talented bunch despite the departure of former Coach Justin Byron from Nansemond River High School.

Byron took a job at Cornell University back in August, ending his reign of dominance with the WAR program in the last few years. Coach Marco McKoy will be stepping in from the assistant position to lead the way this season.

“It’s really big shoes to fill,” McKoy said. “Coach JB built the program into a national powerhouse. The support system has been overwhelming. The staff, faculty, kids and parents have been supportive. It has relieved some of the nerves, so to say.”

McKoy is entering his fifth year at Nansemond River. He is familiar with the athletes and the way things were run when Byron was at the head. For McKoy, it’s about maintaining the same type of flow the program has had the last few years but also incorporating his own way of doing things on top of that.

“When we worked together, we were mostly on the same page about a lot of things,” he said. “Now it’s about getting the kids used to my voice and my coaching style.”

On the girls’ side, Nansemond River returns another talented team. Recent Clemson signee Kori Carter leads the way coming into her senior campaign on the state and national level. Tre’Breh Scott-McKoy also returns with Brene’ Donaldson and Lauryn Freeman. For the boys, Kevin Johnson returns along with Jacob Nixon and a few new faces on both the girls’ and boys’ side who will add depth. Nansemond River had a strong senior class last year, and they are expecting some athletes to step on both teams that really didn’t get the opportunities because of the senior class.

Nansemond River will continue to approach things how they have in the recent seasons. The goal is to be peaking as a team once championship season comes around. They currently hold the reigning Class 5 indoor state title for the girls’ side, and they also hold national titles.

“We just want to continue to set goals for ourselves,” McKoy said. “We have short- and long-term things we want to accomplish on and off the track. We talk about it all amongst each other.”