Boys’ Cross Country

Blair Boys’ Cross Country
2007 Season

10/31/07
NJ State Prep Championships - Blair Academy
Collin Bickford, a leading Blair runner, was sidelined for this meet , hence the team was a bit below strength. In any case, the third place finish behind St. B's and Peddie was decent performance, one that points to a close battle with Lawrenceville and Peddie at the upcoming MAPL race and the final dual meet with Peddie. Click for results.

10/20/07
Blair vs. Lawrenceville (3.1 mile new Blair extremely hilly re-measured)
Score: Blair 22 Lawrenceville 34
Blair record 3-2
On a glorious fall day, the Blair boys rose to the occasion against a solid L'ville squad. Scott Chamberlin was a front runner not to be denied, turning in a fine sub-18:00 performance on a hilly course. The top five (Chamberlin, B.Boyle, Bickford, S. Boyle, Evans) were able to place among the first nine finishers-impressive. JP Bowditch displaced L'ville's fifth man in a gutsy display of racing. Also, welcome back to Graham Williams, who has been injured most of the season. Not a bad Parents' Day 2007. Click for results.

10/13/07
Blair vs Hun (3.1 miles at Hun /Greenway Park....cool and sunny)
Score Blair 15 Hun 50 record (Blair 2-1)
The crisp days of fall have finally arrived and the team rose to the occasion by running well over Hun's mostly grass course. Notable races include Eric Panicucci moving up a few notches, Colin Bickford continuing to recover, Scott Chamberlin running tough after a nasty ankle turn, Sean Boyle staying with the leaders for a fair portion of the race, Cory Pruce returning to the top seven, Lawrence Liu moving up toward the varsity seven, and a group of cross country runners finishing their first race. Click for results.

10/10/07
Blair vs Hill (at Hill's golf course, 3.1 Miles....warm and sunny)
Blair 45 Hill 16 - Record (Blair 1-1)
Virtually the same Hill team that almost beat us at last year's MAPL race returned intact and was far too strong for the Blair group today. To be fair, Colin Bickford continues to be hobbled by allergies and Bobby Boyle is just returning to competition. We shall regroup, train diligently and aim for success in meets down the road. Some of runners completed 3.1 miles for the first time; almost all of them ran with determination, and a large group it was. Click for results.

10/6/07 - Shore Coaches Invitational
Holmdel Park 3.1 miles (hilly, unseasonably warm and humid)
The SAT scheduled for Saturday morning precluded  6 seniors and one junior from racing at the famed Holmdel xc course this year, though we packed them off to Lawrenceville after the test for an impromptu meet with the L'ville's similarly affected student/athletes.  The results were encouraging, led by an ailing Colin Bickford, co-capt. Bobby Boyle (back in action for first time this year), co-capt. Dylan Evans, Craig Stocker, Ed Lim, Craig Stocker.  Given the rushed circumstances, the long ride and extremely warm weather, it was a good day of running. Click for results.

9/23/07
The Canterbury Invitational (New Milford, CT)
5k extreme hills
As usual, the meet was run with precision, good sportsmanship was on display, and the Blair runners met the elite of New England prep school athletes. The younger of the famed Ethiopian Taye brothers ran away with the race and Andover gained the team title. Our boys raced well over a tough course, learning a thing or two along the way: 1) we have a way to go before becoming a fully competitive team (8th among 17 schools ); 2) it will be nice have co-capt. Bob Boyle return to action; 3) rival Peddie ran well, just ahead of Blair, hence the dual meet in Nov. should be a good one. In any case, Collin Bickford led the Blair pack with a fine top 20 performance and frosh Scott Chamberlin was not far behind; the group of Keefer Taylor, Sean Boyle, Dylan Evans was closely packed and rounded out the top five. JP Bowditch was our 6th runner, a wonderful story in itself. Injured the last few years, JP is enjoying senior year health and success. Cory Pruce ran his first varsity race. Note the average time/runner for this team bested last year's performance. Throw into the mix meet t-shirts for all, post-race pizza and salad, arrival at Blair by halftime of the football game, etc., and it was a Blair cross country day at its best. Click for results.

Many thanks to the parents who attended this meet to support Blair runners, no small drive for some.

return to top