At the starting line, sophomore Blake MacNeal propels forward with passion and energy, launching herself in a soaring jump at the New Balance championship meet Thursday, March 13, feeling the electric excitement surrounding her as she takes a leap forward into her track career.
MacNeal’s relentless determination and hard work allow her to find success, driving her to improve and achieve her goals.
According to Michael Travers, girls’ track and field head coach, he spotted Blake’s talent during her eighth grade outdoor track season. “It was obvious to me that she had potential as a track athlete. She seemed to enjoy the sport, and often that’s half the battle,” he said.
MacNeal began her journey in the 7th grade track team at Bigelow Middle School, competing in hurdles and long jump. Shortly after, MacNeal joined the Waltham Track Club to pursue her interest in track. “I started taking it more seriously and did it all year as opposed to just the spring. That’s when I realized track was something I wanted to do with my life,” said MacNeal.
At North, MacNeal competes in the 55 meter hurdles, 100 meter hurdles, long jump, and high jump across the winter and spring track seasons.
“She’s very hard-working and she dedicates her time to whatever she wants to do,” said senior Noea Levi, captain of indoor and outdoor girls’ track and field. “She’ll do her best in whatever she wants to do.”
As MacNeal propels herself forward at the New Balance meet, she simultaneously launches her career toward success.
MacNeal commits herself to practicing six days a week and competes year-round with the Waltham Track Club. Her contributions have proven to be invaluable, placing in the top three 15 times and top five 21 times throughout her career.
Constantly maintaining her high level of dedication to her craft is not easy. Balancing hours of practice with academics and her social life motivated MacNeal to implement new routines and develop better time management skills.
“I’ve adopted a lot of study routines and work ethics that work with me. When I’m doing homework, I set aside an hour to do as much as I can, designating time to just do work without any distractions,” said MacNeal.
According to MacNeal, track did not just impact her physical health but also her mental state as she began to fully commit to a career. As a young runner, MacNeal faced self-doubt due to the high expectations she placed on herself. “I put a lot of pressure on myself. It feels like track is all about you. You can’t blame anyone else for the mistakes you made in your race,” added MacNeal.
Travers, a firsthand observer of Blake’s persistent drive, added, “Blake is very competitive. She likes to perform well and can be hard on herself. Track is about measurables. How far, how high, how fast. They can all be measured. That can be difficult for a young athlete.”
In hopes of countering the stress of her sport, MacNeal works towards a more positive mindset, accepting her mistakes and reminding herself of the passion, love, and community track gives her.
MacNeal’s efforts toward bettering her mindset proved to be effective— Last summer, MacNeal qualified for elite events such as the National Junior Olympics. “When she qualified, I knew she had her sights on this year’s Nationals,” said Travers. “It was just a matter of putting everything together at the right time.”
MacNeal’s hard work continued to pay off as she then qualified for the Championship Nationals hosted at the New Balance Track March 13-16. According to MacNeal, her performance at the event was, to her surprise, extremely successful. “It still hasn’t resonated in my mind,” said MacNeal. “I couldn’t believe it because last year I wasn’t thinking I could jump it. I knew it was far. It was such a surprise, and I was really excited and just couldn’t think.”
In response, MacNeal received unwavering support from her teammates and peers. “When I found out, I was so proud,” said Levi. “Even though I wasn’t with her, I was like, ‘oh my god,’ she qualified, that’s amazing.”
MacNeal placed 32nd out of the 56 competitors who participated in her event, jumping a total distance of 17’8 feet.
According to Levi, MacNeal has significantly grown in confidence and maturity, becoming more certain of herself and her goals. She added that the world has been watching her develop into a determined and self-confident person, inspiring those around her.
MacNeal leaves a message to those who want to follow her path: “I would tell people that there are so many opportunities in track so don’t limit yourself. Track is for everyone. It doesn’t always have to be competitive, it can be so much fun.”
As MacNeal takes the jump forward at the starting line, she simultaneously propels forward into her promising future.
With her unwavering support and determination, MacNeal puts her best foot forward, proving that passion and perseverance lead to success. Her journey inspires not only track athletes but also those who strive to achieve their dreams and aspirations.
