Written April 2.

Bishop Blanchet’s track & field team starts off another great season.

Track & Field is Blanchet’s only co-ed, no-cut spring sport with 119 boys and 88 girls. These students demonstrate varied skills from long distance running to sprinting, throwing to jumping, and hurdling to pole vault.

“The team has grown so much the past three years,” said senior Amanda Foos. “It is always exciting the first day of track to see all the new faces and see the team grow.”

Practice began on Feb 27, allowing almost a full month to prepare for the first official meet on March 23 in Rainier Beach.

“My goals this season include breaking 27 seconds on my 200 meter run and running with my 4×400 meter relay team at Pasco one more time before my high school career has finished,” said Foos.

Foos ran with junior Emma Flood and sophomores Kate Manley and Megan Hatton in the 4×400 meter race at the first meet in 4:30.69 mins.

“It’s hard sometimes but seeing improvement and setting goals is good to keep motivated,” said junior Lars Krokum. “My big goal this season is to get under 5 minutes in the mile.”

The track & field team was excused from class at 12:45pm in order to travel to Bainbridge Island on March 30 for their second meet. Krokum raced the 800 meter dash for the first time as well as running a 5:10.93 minute mile.

Where Blanchet representatives were absent from the triple jump and girls’ hurdles at their first meet, their second week proved to be successful. Rookie-senior Jadyn Bush placed first in the triple jump over classmate Beatriz Cuevas who took second place. Elsewhere, freshman Valen Hinson was the only female Brave to compete in the 300 meter hurdles.

With strong finishes from Connor Moore, Jeremiah Stone, and Parker Rathbun, the Blanchet boys took first place against Bainbridge and Lakeside with 61 points, and the girls placed second with 48 points.

The Braves’ next competition is on April 6 at 2:45 at Nathan Hale.