Hale leads Baldwin runners at Red, White and Blue Invitational

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 15, 2018 | 3:27 PM

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The Red, White and Blue Invitational, sponsored by the Baldwin cross country program, celebrated its 16th birthday this year.

The meet is held annually at Schenley Oval in early September, and has become a premiere running event for the high school cross country teams.

“All things considered — the rain, the new course — things went very well,” said Rich Wright, who’s shared the Baldwin cross country coaching duties with Bonita “Bunny” Schmidt for many years. “We had athletes from 85 different schools, 2,200 in all, with teams from Ohio, West Virginia and Erie, along with some mid-state teams.”

The invitational, which features specific boys and girls races for varsity, junior varsity and freshman athletes, originally was called the Duquesne Duals.

“We needed a meet on this date (in 2003) because California University was not having one any more, and coaches reached out to me,” Wright said. “The first year, we ran with Duquesene University.

“Duquesne needed to change their date the next season, and with our race near 9/11, it became the Red, White and Blue.”

The leading Baldwin competitor at this year’s event held Sept. 8 was senior Macy Hale, who placed 17th in the Class AAA girls division with a time of 20:06.27.

“My season is going pretty well,” said Hale, who has a 4.463 GPA and is ranked second in her class. “I’ve placed well in my last two invites, and I also won a race at White Oak Park.

“I was happy with my race at Red, White and Blue. I wanted to improve my place from 23rd last year, which I did. About halfway through the race I was in 25th place, but I was prepared for the last half being mostly uphill and started catching girls one by one. I made it into 17th place at the finish.”

Hale is a four-year cross country runner at Baldwin. She also has competed in outdoor track for three years, and indoor track for two years.

“Macy is one of the top runners in the WPIAL,” Wright said. “She just set a course record at White Oak. She ran well at RW&B and will do well in all our invitationals.”

Along with her studies and athletic schedule, Hale is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club and math league.

Baldwin’s boys team was led at RW&B by junior Ted Boehm’s 34th place showing in the Class AAA division.

Boehm, who was fighting an injury while running the race, also competes in volleyball and on the Highlanders track and field team. He posted a 17:15.5 time at the invitational.

Other leading competitors for Baldwin included the following:

BOYS — senior John Ziegler (17:54.99), junior Caden Harsh (18:48.34), senior Jared Koenig (18:56.58), junior Zach Pender (19:17.4).

GIRLS — sophomore Gina Bolla (21:23.78), senior Devon Schroeder (22:29.52), junior Makenzie Shandor (22:49.29), sophomore Margo Chalmers (22:53.28).

“John Zeigler, in his first big cross country meet, had a great run,” Wright said. “He is working hard, and also is starting on our boys soccer team.”

One other individual highlight for Baldwin was the ninth-place performance turned in by Dom Ditoro in the boys freshman race.

Wright said he receives invaluable assistance in panning and organizing the invitational from Baldwin cross country team members, parents of team members, and Schmidt.

“Our parents are awesome; their help was outstanding,” Wright said. “Eric and Christi Koenig have been helping with the race for eight years and are just awesome.

“And Bunny, with her knowledge, ran things to a tee.”

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Baldwin