Connor Polen '26 Leads Minutemen to Bill Blaskopf Invitational Title

Newark Academy hosted the 48th annual Bill Blaskopf Invitational on Saturday, September 6. Connor Polen ’26 led the pack, securing the first-place medal with a time of 17:05. The second-place runner, Ibrahim Rasool of Rutgers Prep, did not finish for nearly another minute (18:01). Coming in to support Polen’s first-place finish were Arun Damodaran '27 in fifth overall (18:54) and Ariel Gorbaty ’27 in sixth overall (18:56).

On the boys’ side, schools in attendance included Blair Academy, Morristown Beard, Gill St. Bernard’s, Rutgers Prep, St. Benedict’s Prep, Passaic Valley and Wardlaw Hartridge. On the girls’ side, teams included Blair, Oak Knoll, Mt. St. Mary Academy, Gill St. Bernard’s, St. Benedict’s Prep, Wardlaw Hartridge, Morristown Beard and Passaic Valley. 

This first place finish was a redemption win for the Minutemen as they lost out on the title last year to Rutgers Prep by just one point (44 to 45). This year, the Minutemen edged Rutgers Prep 43 to 49.

The girls’ squad finished in fourth place with Aemilia Gjona '29 being the first Newark Academy runner to cross the finish line in 8th place.

Newark Academy is eager to kick off its regular season on Tuesday, September 9th, with a group meet at Branch Brook Park. The boys will face Bloomfield, Montclair and Nutley with a 4:55 p.m. start, while the girls will face Columbia and Livingston at 5:10 p.m.