Thirty seven runners from seven schools kicked off their 2022 seasons at Newark Academy’s 45th annual Bill Blaskopf Invitational. Named in honor of the school’s long-time race director and cross country coach, the race went off at 9:30 a.m. on Newark Academy’s picturesque campus in Livingston, New Jersey. With temperatures in the 70’s, the runners enjoyed a respite from the heat wave that had hovered over the area since mid-August and ran well their first time out.
Captain Petra Taylor '24 led the team with her 8th place finish. Having established herself in the lead pack over the first half mile, she battled with the top group the entire way, never giving ground to the more experienced runners from Mt. St. Mary’s and Oak Knoll. Second for the Bucs, in 22nd second place overall, was sophomore newcomer Clare Bolte '25, who has quickly established herself as one of the stars of the future. Clare’s calm self-confidence led to her pushing the pace in the early part of the course, while her smooth mechanics kept her from tying up when the going got tough.
Just three places behind Clare was Chandler Wildrick '25, also running her first-ever race for Blair. Chandler’s battle with a runner from Newark Academy lasted the entire length of the race-course, the two girls putting on a stirring show of toughness and grit that will pay huge dividends in the future. Blair’s fourth varsity runner, Renee Tracey '23, ran a strategically sound race, picking off girl after girl as she made her way through the wooded loop that comprised the middle third of the course. Brigette Starrs '25 concluded the varsity scoring with a race that proved the power of experience and summer training. As a veteran runner she handled the challenges of the race with aplomb, never losing her focus and eventually displacing the fourth-place runner from a rival school.
Due to their collective efforts, the Bucs secured 4th place overall and appear to be on the way to a successful season of distance running. Their next race will be on Saturday, September 24, as they travel to Peddie for the Jerry Hart Invitational.