Tri State
Not high school, but …
Hall finds team to run for this fall
MOOREFIELD, W.Va. – Blayke Hall now has a running home.
Hall, the 16-year-old incoming junior at Moorefield High School, has chosen to compete this fall cross country season for the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club. She will race in up to 10 cross country events between Sept. 12 and Dec. 12.
Until recently, Hall figured she was going to compete for the Yellow Jackets at Moorefield High School. She was the cross country team’s lone competitor in the fall of 2008. As of early this month – and after fall pratices had started for high school student-athletes around West Virginia – the Moorefield Athletic Boosters appeared to be leaning against funding the coaching position.
No coach, no team. No team, no practices or competition. Rather than wait for the gavel to fall, Hall and her parents, Gregg and Cindy Hall, listened to running coach Kevin Spradlin’s plan to have their daughter run as an open athlete.
“The intent,” Spradlin told the family during a three-hour meeting on Aug. 9 in Moorefield, “is to allow Blayke to begin, once again, focusing on training and racing. There’s little doubt she’s been distracted by all of the things going on at Moorefield High School and the Hard County school district.”
Gregg Hall, Blayke's father, said being the first “Team M3” runner wouldn't be much different than how the fall of 2008 unfolded for Blayke.
Hall finds team to run for this fall
MOOREFIELD, W.Va. – Blayke Hall now has a running home.
Hall, the 16-year-old incoming junior at Moorefield High School, has chosen to compete this fall cross country season for the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club. She will race in up to 10 cross country events between Sept. 12 and Dec. 12.
Until recently, Hall figured she was going to compete for the Yellow Jackets at Moorefield High School. She was the cross country team’s lone competitor in the fall of 2008. As of early this month – and after fall pratices had started for high school student-athletes around West Virginia – the Moorefield Athletic Boosters appeared to be leaning against funding the coaching position.
No coach, no team. No team, no practices or competition. Rather than wait for the gavel to fall, Hall and her parents, Gregg and Cindy Hall, listened to running coach Kevin Spradlin’s plan to have their daughter run as an open athlete.
“The intent,” Spradlin told the family during a three-hour meeting on Aug. 9 in Moorefield, “is to allow Blayke to begin, once again, focusing on training and racing. There’s little doubt she’s been distracted by all of the things going on at Moorefield High School and the Hard County school district.”
Gregg Hall, Blayke's father, said being the first “Team M3” runner wouldn't be much different than how the fall of 2008 unfolded for Blayke.
“Last year, she completed the season being the only one on the team,” he said. “I know that she missed (having teammates) … but I don't really think it was going to be any different this year” running for Moorefield High School.
“I don't feel like she's missing out much on that,” Hall said.
Spradlin learned of Hall’s situation while reporting on her situation for the Cumberland (Md.) Times-News. He approached the Halls with more than a little apprehension. Cindy Hall, Blayke’s mother, shares a bit of that concern.
“I know it’s going to be difficult for her with school and training,” she said, but “I encourage it because I know, in the long run, it’s going to benefit her. She needs this. I think it’s going to get her out there in the competitive field where she needs to be.”
As a freshman in the fall of 2007, Hall placed ninth in the West Virginia Class AA-A cross country state championship cross country in 20 minutes and 45 seconds, still her all-time best at the 5K (3.1-mile) distance. Last fall, Hall placed 15th overall in the Region II meet at Keyser High School.
“I don't feel like she's missing out much on that,” Hall said.
Spradlin learned of Hall’s situation while reporting on her situation for the Cumberland (Md.) Times-News. He approached the Halls with more than a little apprehension. Cindy Hall, Blayke’s mother, shares a bit of that concern.
“I know it’s going to be difficult for her with school and training,” she said, but “I encourage it because I know, in the long run, it’s going to benefit her. She needs this. I think it’s going to get her out there in the competitive field where she needs to be.”
As a freshman in the fall of 2007, Hall placed ninth in the West Virginia Class AA-A cross country state championship cross country in 20 minutes and 45 seconds, still her all-time best at the 5K (3.1-mile) distance. Last fall, Hall placed 15th overall in the Region II meet at Keyser High School.
Spradlin, who last coached at the high school level in 2001 and later in Washington and South Korea
while serving in the U.S. Army, said his goal is to help Hall train, taper and race in a fashion that will
allow her to perform to her highest level possible.
It’s a message the aspiring collegiate athlete with a 3.98 grade point average welcomed.
“My main point was I just wanted to be able to run,” Hall said. “I feel this is going to help me be a lot better.”
From the first workout on Aug. 11, Hall said she “felt like I accomplished more than I have in a long time. Basically, I’m just glad that I’m going to get to run.”
Spradlin said the ideal situation would be for the young runner to represent Moorefield High School. But instead of dwelling on the negative, he said, Hall now gets to represent Moorefield and Hardy County in new competitive opportunities she wouldn’t otherwise have had.
“Blayke has the ability to run in very competitive meets through the fall season, extending into mid-December,” Spradlin said. “She really wants to run for a team and be part of something bigger than herself. I believe the most enjoyable events for her will be the two or three available team-oriented races where she will, in fact, run as a member of a team.”
Her tentative schedule includes cross country races in five different Maryland counties and the chance to compete in Massachusetts, North Carolina and Kentucky. Hall also is considering AAU and USATF competitive opportunities.
“We’re not restricted with the same difficulties the school district seemed to encounter,” Spradlin said. “The sky’s the limit, really.”
Of course, meals and travel and, on as many as three occasions, lodging must be paid. To that end, the marathon club is accepting tax-deductible contributions to support Hall and the club’s competitive team.
Those wishing to donate to the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club team can do so by writing to the club at: P.O. Box 227, Ellerslie, MD 21529-0227. Spradlin also can be reached by e-mail at run@mountainMDmarathon.org.
while serving in the U.S. Army, said his goal is to help Hall train, taper and race in a fashion that will
allow her to perform to her highest level possible.
It’s a message the aspiring collegiate athlete with a 3.98 grade point average welcomed.
“My main point was I just wanted to be able to run,” Hall said. “I feel this is going to help me be a lot better.”
From the first workout on Aug. 11, Hall said she “felt like I accomplished more than I have in a long time. Basically, I’m just glad that I’m going to get to run.”
Spradlin said the ideal situation would be for the young runner to represent Moorefield High School. But instead of dwelling on the negative, he said, Hall now gets to represent Moorefield and Hardy County in new competitive opportunities she wouldn’t otherwise have had.
“Blayke has the ability to run in very competitive meets through the fall season, extending into mid-December,” Spradlin said. “She really wants to run for a team and be part of something bigger than herself. I believe the most enjoyable events for her will be the two or three available team-oriented races where she will, in fact, run as a member of a team.”
Her tentative schedule includes cross country races in five different Maryland counties and the chance to compete in Massachusetts, North Carolina and Kentucky. Hall also is considering AAU and USATF competitive opportunities.
“We’re not restricted with the same difficulties the school district seemed to encounter,” Spradlin said. “The sky’s the limit, really.”
Of course, meals and travel and, on as many as three occasions, lodging must be paid. To that end, the marathon club is accepting tax-deductible contributions to support Hall and the club’s competitive team.
Those wishing to donate to the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club team can do so by writing to the club at: P.O. Box 227, Ellerslie, MD 21529-0227. Spradlin also can be reached by e-mail at run@mountainMDmarathon.org.
Blayke doing pre-interval lunges at Team M3's first practice on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at Town Park in Moorefield
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