9/13/08 - Newark Academy Cross Country Invitational (3.1 miles..warm/humid)

Blair opened up the season with a solid performance by a number of runners: CJ Davies (16:43)  and Scott Chamberlin (16:44)  were top ten medal winners, Chris Miller was third for Blair, and Sean Boyle, Henry Foote, Blake Johnstone, Corey Pruce rounded out the team.  Interestingly, four Blair runners in the JV race bested the time of the last three varsity athletes: frosh Evan Redos, Harris Jordan, Lawrence Liu and Graham McConnell.  This was the largest Blair team ever to compete at this meet.  The varsity placed 5th among 13 teams.

 

9/20/08 - Canterbury Invitational   (3.1 miles..hilly,  cool and clear)

 

Missing number two runner Scott Chamberlin due to injury, the Blair varsity ran credibly at this fine invitational meet.  The team placed 7th among 17 Div I schools and CJ Davies garnered a 7th place medal, clocking a fine 17:23 over a tough course. Sophomore Chris Miller and freshman Evan Redos ran particularly well as the 2-3 men; Sean Boyle, Blake Johnstone , Lawrence Liu, Harris Jordan rounded out the team.

 

9/24/08 - Gill St. Bernard’s  Invitational   (3.1 mile..some hills    cool and clear)

 

Blair finished first among seven teams in the varsity race.  CJ  Davies was victorious and  Chris Miller ran second overall, with a supportive, pack running  Evan Redos,  Lawrence Liu, Henry Foote, Blake Johnstone and Sean Boyle.  Scott Chamberlin was sorely missed due to injury, though he was with the team in spirit.  May Scott and a number of other athletes return from the injured list.  Harris Jordan led a large contingent in the JV race, with many first-time runners bravely negotiating a relatively challenging course.   Blair is back to serious training for the Shore Invitational next Saturday.

 

10/4/08 - 2008 SHORE COACHES CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL-HOLMDEL                     

 

Chris Miller (24th) and Evan Redos (31st) won plaques and led a depleted Blair cross country team to a 6th place finish among 18 teams (141 finishers ) at the Shore Invitational cross country meet.  SAT exams for seniors made it impossible for some to make the 9:30 start at Holmdel Park.  Ace runner Scott Chamberlin remains on the injured list.   Todd Preston led the freshman team and Dylan North was first for the JV squad. A special 4:20 race for SAT-takers was completed by Blake Johnstone (20:03) and John Redos (20:32). The boys’ cross country team will compete at Blair on Wednesday against The Hill School.

 

 

10/8/08 - A fine Hill team defeated the Blair runners handily on a perfect fall cross country day.   Spirits were high, and many athletes competed at a solid level on a challenging course and sportsmanship was on display throughout the afternoon.  Scott Chamberlin is finally back in action, jogging around the field a bit.  Welcome back to Scott!   Sophomore Chris Miller almost broke into Hill's top five with a heroic lunge at the wrong finish line.  Next time!   And freshman Evan Redos was right behind him.   CJ Davies ran with the Hill leader for a portion of the race before losing ground. Lawrence Liu, Henry Foote, Sean Boyle and Ted Peacock rounded out the Blair top seven. Onward to the Hun/Mo-Beard meet on Saturday!

 

10/11/08 - Blair vs Hun and Morristown Beard  (3.1 mile Blair xc course...warm, dry)

 

The Blair cross country team posted another impressive performance.  Despite training through this meet, many runners garnered personal records (pr's) on a beautiful fall day.  Perhaps most memorable was a duel right down to the wire between Chris Miller and Mo-Beard's ace for 2nd place, and the distance between winner CJ Davies and Blair's 5th man, Lawrence Liu, has been pared down to 1:30.  The goal for the team this year is to achieve a one minute separating the 1st and 5th runner.  It looks like the Bucs are getting closer achieving the team goal, and they will have another opportunity to display their talent this Wednesday at Blair as they face St. Benedicts, Stuart, and Gill.

 

10/15/08 - Blair vs St Benedict's; Blair vs North Warren Regional; Blair vs Gill St. Bernard's   (Blair 3.1 mile hilly golf course; warm and dry)

 

On a beautiful fall day, the Blair boys raised their competitive level quite a bit with an impressive victory over St. Benedict's, GSB and NWR.  This was North Warren's first race at Blair in over 25 years.   May this new-found relationship with our Blairstown neighbor continue for many years. Since St. Benedict's easily bested  Blair runners at the Newark Invitational, today's results suggest our team has improved a good deal in the last month or so.  Win or lose, we always enjoy a visit from Coach Hannon and his St Benedict's runners.  Scott Chamberlin's return to action after a month of lagging injuries has been a resounding success.  CJ again led the way to victory, and Chris Miller broke the 18 minute barrier for the first time on our challenging home course. Note: Evan Redos is knocking on the 18 minute door. And a number of runners are ready to break the 19 and 20 minute barriers.  Hard work is beginning to pay off.   (Newark Northstar, a new charter school, ran as guests in the meet.  Best of luck to them!) More than 80 runners completed the race—the most ever to traverse the Blair course in a non- invitational meet.  Congratulations to all the boys on a glorious cross country day!

 

 

10/18/08 -  Blair vs Lawrenceville (L'ville 3.1 course..clear and cool)

 

Blair runners continue to rise to the occasion with excellent performances across-the- board.  Coach Miller notes that there are too many personal records to mention. It is significant that 10 Blair runners are racing within the 18 minute range or better. It's nice to have such depth.   With Saturday classes at 8:00, a long bus ride at 11:00, and a tour of an unfamiliar course at 1:00—it takes mature young men to deal with such a stressful, competitive situation.   Blair parents were out in force, all enjoying a glorious XC day and a chance to see their sons in action. The Blair runners appreciate their support.   Next up for the Blair Cross Country team— the MAPL meet in 9 days.  The runners have had more than enough racing for awhile!

 

10/29/08 – MAPL @ Peddie - October 29,2008 

(3.1 mile on the golf course...breezy, some rain)

 

A number of runners posted their best times for the Blair varsity and JV teams; 10 Blair boys ran under 19 minutes. The third place finish was a bit disappointing for the boys’ cross country team, though Lawrenceville's second place team included at least one fine runner who had not participated in the Blair dual meet earlier in the year. Highlights included an excellent 16:33 race by Scott Chamberlin (5th place), a clocking of 17:12 by Chris Miller (12th place) and JV performances by Tommy Kerrigan and Ted

Peacock; their times would place them among the varsity seven. A majority of JV athletes ran personal records—no small feat!  The boys look forward to the State Prep meet (Wednesday) as well as the Peddie Day race (Saturday).

 

 

11/8/08 - Blair vs Peddie    Peddie Day at Blair    (3.1 mile hilly  course… rainy, muddy and slow)

 

SCORE

 

Blair 26….Peddie 29

 

Blair final record  7-1

 

Blair runners ended the season by defeating a previously unbeaten Peddie team in a highly competitive race. For some on this squad, it was a rewarding conclusion to almost 6 months of summer and fall training in pursuit of that often elusive “peak performance.” CJ Davies surged to the  front after mile one and never relinquished the lead, a tough-as-nails Scott Chamberlin followed him home for a second place finish; Chris Miller ran a valiant race in placing 5th overall, and frosh Evan Redos scored by besting  Peddie’s 5th man. Tthere were so many other stories that could highlighted, as Blair fielded the largest squad in our history—some 40 highly motivated starters. The boys did a fine job. Let us not forget injured Pat Maillet, Cody Buchanan, et al., for cheerleading from the sidelines. Supportive parents were out in force, cross country alumni were a secret weapon, and the throngs of screaming Blair students swept the runners along. What a day! The coaches are duly proud of all that was achieved on this memorable Peddie Day.