Welcome
Welcome to the Blackman Blaze and Lady Blaze Cross Country pages! Look around and review the various seasons as well as records from the past. We boast a rich history of running at a high level.
Athletically, the Blaze and Lady Blaze compete against other like competitive teams from Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Nashville, and Middle Tennessee as members of the Mid State Cross Country Association (MSCCA). Both teams also compete regionally in well known meets like Brooks Memphis Twilight in Memphis, Tennessee, Jesse Owens Classic and Chickasaw Trails in Oakville, Alabama, and Trinity Valkyrie in Louisville, Kentucky. Both teams compete for a coveted TSSAA State spot as members of Region 4. The Lady Blaze have qualified for the state meet in 2013, 2014, and 2015 while the Blaze have qualified in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015. Numerous individuals have also qualified for the state meet over the years as well.
Blackman Harriers come from a cross section of the student population. The Blackman Collegiate Academy (BCA) attracts a lot of runners. So do organizations such as DECA and other Career and Technical (CTE) organizations. Furthermore, Blaze and Lady Blaze runners are also busy with many other extra curricular activities during the year. The Blaze and Lady Blaze excel in the classroom as well. The Blaze GPA this past fall was 3.35 while the Lady Blaze sported a 3.56 team GPA. Blackman Cross Country also counts a National Merit Semi Finalist as well as a National Merit Finalist among their ranks.
After high school, Blackman running alumni go on to study at schools such as Air Force Academy, BYU, Wake Forest, Ole Miss, Purdue, University of Memphis, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Bryan College, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, University of Kentucky, and others. Other alums choose to stay closer to home and attend MTSU, Trevecca Nazarene, Belmont, Lipscomb, Vanderbilt, and Cumberland. Still other alums enter such diverse fields working in religious ministries, working with special needs populations,and working in trades such as welding and construction; we have even had an alum work on the Bridge over Broad!
Blaze runners who want also have the opportunity to run in college. Cross Country runners from Blackman have continued their careers running at a high level at various colleges and universities throughout the South. In fact, in 2011 Chris Berry reached the collegiate pinnacle when he qualified for the NCAA Division One National Championship as an individual qualifier. Other runners have gone on to personal success after high school as road racers in 5K and 10k races, half marathons and marathons, and even found national renown in more extreme running styled competitions.
Enjoy the perusal! If there are questions, please feel free to contact Coach Sutton at [email protected].
There are champions everywhere.
- Arthur Lydiard -