Coming off a successful fall cross country season, senior Hayden Singer qualified for New Jersey’s Meet of Champions.  The race was held on Saturday November 12th. Singer is a 4 year varsity athlete who also qualified for the selective competition during his junior year winter track season. 

Meet of Champions is a race compiled of the top 10 runners of each group in the state, as well as the number 1 team from each group. After placing 2nd at groups and running a 16:57 5k, Singer secured himself a spot with the help of NPHS coaches Alexander Meyer and Corey Arnold.  

“They’ve been helpful this season in supporting me through every race and setting certain goals for me to hit,” said Singer. 

Throughout the week leading up to the race, Singer practiced every day after school with both coaches, along with some of his teammates. The important workouts and recovery runs helped Singer prepare for the difficult course at Holmdel.

While Singer was initially seeded 73rd he placed 65th, after running a 16:59. Regardless of his slower MOC’s time, different factors affected his overall performance. 

Singer said: “I felt really good going up the hill and wanted to kick and when I was trying to, there was someone to the right, left, and 2 people in front. I couldn’t kick as hard as I wanted to and it remained a major issue throughout the whole race.”

He was cheered on and surrounded by his family and friends.

“I wasn’t expecting any of the other kids on my team to come. There were 8 of them and they all had green paint on their faces and stomach with my name on it. It was really supportive,” he said. 

His experiences at the Meet of Champions have continued to shape him as a runner and will prepare him for any future obstacles he may face throughout his running career. His winter track season begins just next week and Singer is expected to only improve his performances from last year.