Four years ago, Megan Blue decided to try a spring sport. Basketball had been her primary sport, but the Central Bucks West senior needed more.
Neither her mother, Elena, nor father, Chad, were involved in track during their high school days, but with their encouragement she joined the Bucks’ program.
“I played basketball my whole life, and I wanted to do something during the spring,” reflected Blue. “My parents were a big influence on me starting. They told me I should do it, and I’m really glad they did.”
Blue started the long and triple jump her sophomore year and the high jump in her junior year; however, jumping wasn’t her initial path.
“I actually began as a sprinter,” noted Blue. “I then became a jumper, but I don’t think basketball was an influence.
“There weren’t any big obstacles that I had to overcome when I started. Once I tried jumping, I knew it was something I wanted to do and work hard at it.”
At last Saturday’s Central Bucks West Relays, Blue won the high jump, matching a personal best (5-4), and the long jump (16-11.25) competitions. Earlier this season, Blue set her personal best in the high jump (5-4). Her PB in the long jump was 17-1, and her PB in the triple jump was 30-7.
Other individual girls winners at the meet were Central Bucks South’s Devlyn Faber, triple jump, 34-11; Central Bucks South’s Jacquelyn Waddell, pole vault, 10-0; Pennridge’s Nicole Rindone, discus, 99-1; and Quakertown’s Sabine Muse, shot put, 33-11.
The CB West girls relay teams won the distance medley (13:42.36), sprint medley (4:12.53), 4x400 (4:00.57), 4x200 (1:45.36), 4x100 (49.61) and 4x100 shuttle hurdle (1:10.62).
The CB South relay team took the top spot in the 4x800 (9:38.64) and the 4x1,600 (21:28.26), and Pennridge’s 4x400 hurdle relay team claimed first in a time of 45.11.
On the boys side, local winners were Central Bucks East’s Tieren Mead, high jump, 6-0; Pennridge’s Chase Marshall, long jump, 20-9; Council Rock South’s Nazar Pastukh, triple jump, 41-9.75; Council Rock South’s Sam Cantwell, javelin, 148-6; and Central Bucks East’s Jacob Tannenbaum in the shot put, 47-8.50 and in the discus, 157-10.
The CB East boys won the 4x110 shuttle hurdle relay (1:06.83) and the 4x800 relay (8:00.38). The Pennridge boys relay team claimed first in the 4x400 (3:22.85) and Central Bucks West won the sprint medley (3:33.44).
Last season, Blue hit 5-0 in the high jump, 17-11 in the long jump, and 33-2 in the triple jump. She only participated in the long jump at districts last year, and she placed 10th with a mark of 17.0-25. This season, Blue believes she is on a good pace, and has fed off her teammates.
“I’m really happy with how my season is going,” Blue said. “I feel that it’s easier to improve when the people around me are also doing great. My teammates really motivate me to show up and compete when they are competing at a high level.”
Head coach Kiki Bell has welcomed Blue’s transition to the jumps.
“Megan has been an impressive athlete for us in the jumps,” stressed Bell. “At the (CB West) relays, she showed everyone, but most importantly herself how impressive she is. She found herself in a jumpoff, and came out with a new personal best.”
Teammate Reegan Moran has followed a similar script as she also began her track career in her freshman year. Initially, Moran started track to stay in shape for soccer.
For Moran, it has developed into a career that has included running the 100, 200, 400, and the lead leg in the team, 400, 800 and 1,600 relay teams.
Moran’s best finish this season was 100.71 in the 400, and a relay split of 59.45.
“After I decided to begin running in the spring, I decided to run winter track my sophomore year, and track became my No. 1 sport,” she stated. “I like the events because they are fast and very rewarding, especially the 400.”
Moran has been pleased with the season, and she is awaiting the Penn Relays this weekend.
“So far, our season has been going well,” she said. “The coaches and my teammates have made it really enjoyable. I had a good time at the West relays. Everyone did well and finished strong.
“I am looking forward to the Penn Relays this weekend. My teammates and I are excited and ready, I can’t wait to see what the last month of the season holds for us.”
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