Junior Gavin Blaine is expected to break the school two-mile and 5K records by his senior year, and is projected to run at Missouri’s state cross country meet. However, his story began long before the high school start lines.

   “I started running in elementary school. We had running club, and every Tuesday and Thursday we’d go out to the track and do a few laps,” Blaine said.

   After elementary school, Blaine went to Cherokee Middle School. He started track in seventh grade and began running cross country in eighth grade. At this time, Blaine began to enjoy running, especially when he would be with his friends and his twin brother, Dawson.

   “We’d go around three miles, and then it got a lot of fun whenever we started getting to do more races,” Blaine said.

   As Blaine grew, so did his skill. He would see the older runners going on high-mileage runs, and he wanted to do that as well.

   “[I saw] the older guys having fun and running high mileage and going on those 10-mile runs, and I saw how much that made them improve,” Blaine said.

   This motivated Blaine, and his training paid off. Freshman year, Blaine competed at the state track meet, and is on his way to make several more milestones.

   “I made it to state as a freshman in the two-mile for track. I’m projected to all-state this year for cross country, and then I’m on track to break the school two-mile and 5K records,” Blaine said.

   Blaine continues to get better. With practices in the morning and after school, Blaine works hard to get faster and stronger, knowing that there is an expectation placed on him and the team.

   “There’s an expectation for hard work, and a lot of discipline goes into that,” Blaine said.

   Blaine wakes up usually around 5:40 a.m. to get ready for morning practice and school.

   “We have practice at 6:15 a.m. We’ll do a little bit of a lift, sometimes weights, other times it’s just calisthenics. Then I do the elliptical for 30 minutes, and while I do that, I read my Bible and do a little devotional. Then I go to school. Usually, I’ll have an orchestra rehearsal in the morning, and then after school, practice starts at 3:30 p.m.,” Blaine said.

   On top of morning and afternoon practices, Blaine also plays the cello in chamber orchestra and the quartet, sings in chamber choir, participates in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and is in the youth leadership at his church, Second Baptist.

   “Balancing everything is pretty tough, but we make it work,” Blaine said.

   He is a part of the cross country team in the fall and runs at meets on Saturdays; however, in the spring, Blaine runs several events for the track team. 

   “Meets for cross are usually a little chaotic. You get there, you warm up, and then you run pretty much immediately. For track, it’s different because I run the two-mile, and that’s the second-to-last event. It’s a lot of sitting around at the tent trying to stay away from the sun as much as possible,” Blaine said.

   His most memorable meet was state track at the end of his sophomore year, last spring. At that meet, he ran the two-mile; the team had several field events, and Blaine got to cheer on the four by eight team while they raced. It was also a chance for him to spend time with some of the seniors before they graduated.

   “It was pretty much just hanging out with the cross country team. I think the most memorable thing was getting to watch them run the four by eight, and then we went on an eight-mile cool down all through Jefferson City. That was our last hoorah with the seniors before they graduated,” Blaine said.

   One of the most rewarding moments for Blaine was when the team ran a half-marathon in West Plains last February. His goal was to run the half-marathon in an hour and 20 minutes, and he ended up beating that goal.

   “That’s always a big milestone where we get to push ourselves. Last year, I ran an hour and eighteen, so my goal was to get as close to an hour and 20 minutes as possible, and I got well under that. I went sub six-minute pace for the half-marathon,” Blaine said.

   One of his favorite parts of being a part of the cross country and track team is running and cheering on the other athletes. They can also help outside of cross country with his schoolwork.

   “They’re a great resource if I need anything. School-wise, we have a lot of really strong academic guys, so anytime I need help with my classes or whatnot, they’re always there,” Blaine said.

   Blaine is close to junior Preston Gegg, senior Isaac Swenson, and Blaine’s brother, Dawson. When Dawson and Blaine were younger, they motivated and pushed each other. 

   “He and I were really competitive. In middle school, he was a lot better than me, and that just motivated me to work hard,” Blaine said.

   Practices are also a chance for them to spend time together.

   “It’s a lot of fun because I get to see him all the time, and that’s a way that we can connect. There’s a time to lock in, but most of the time we’re kind of just goofy and happy-go-lucky,” Blaine said.

   Blaine sets goals and keeps his eye on state. He wants to improve his personal record, break the school records, and get in the top 10 at state cross country.

   “For this season, I’m hoping to run 15 minutes and 15 seconds in the 5K. I’d like to get top 10 at state, and I think I’m seated 15th right now, so I got a little bit of improving,” Blaine said.

   After high school, he plans to go to college and join the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) to become an engineering officer in the Army. 

   “I want to go to college, and I want to do ROTC and then be an engineering officer in the Army. So, if I can run in college, that’d be great,” Blaine said.

   Blaine works hard, but also knows that he owes his talent to God, and trusts His plan for his life, whether that involves the military, running, or not. 

   “I’m really thankful for the blessings He’s given me with a talent to run, and I want to work hard for that. [I’m grateful for] the staff and teammates that He’s placed around me to help me grow,” Blaine said.