Blair's girls' cross country team attended the Jerry Hart Invitational this past Saturday. The event memorializes The Peddie School’s long-time cross country coach, Jerry Hart, who was as successful developing outstanding runners as he was in instilling positive values in the students he coached.
Six Blair girls - senior Captain Marty Dericks '22, juniors Renee Tracey '23 and Ali McEachern '23, sophomores Petra Taylor '24 and Meredith Abbott '24, and ninth-grader Brigette Starrs '25 - joined 49 other girls from ten schools on a sunny, 76 degree day in Hightstown, New Jersey. In her first-ever competitive 5k (last year’s virtual races not included), Blair’s Petra Taylor led the Bucs with a fine 22:11, followed by Marty Dericks, whose 23:24 constituted an improvement of 40 seconds from her season best. Renee Tracey was the third Blair girl across the line in 25:01, down over three minutes from last week as she continues to figure out the differences - and similarities - between competitive running and rowing.
Fourth for the team was Meredith Abbott, back from an ankle sprain in her first race in over two years, with Ali McEachern running her first-ever 5k in 27:11. Finally, Brigette Starrs continues to display her mettle, surging at the two-mile mark to break away from the girl who had hung on to her over the first 2/3 of the race, in the process earning her third varsity finish of the year.
Having a complete squad compete today gives the entire team a boost heading to The Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh next Friday.