Reed Blackman is a senior runner for both the Green Hope Cross Country and Track & Field Teams. His 5K personal record is a 15:48, which puts him as the tenth fastest individual in Green Hope history. Blackman’s career at Green Hope is full of accolades, as he won a state championship in 2017 on the Cross Country team and went to Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon. Reed Blackman has decided to take his athletic and academic career to Charlotte where he plans on running as a 49er at UNC-Charlotte.

1. When did you begin running?
“I ran track in 8th grade, but started seriously running my freshman year. Fegeley almost didn’t even let me on the team that year.”

2. What was the most memorable moment in your high school career?
“Either winning states my junior year or being the first North Carolina team to ever go to the Nike Cross Nationals.”

3. What inspired you or pushed you to pursue running at the collegiate level?
“Me and my best friend from Concord always had a joke that we would run in the Olympics together, so we always had that dream of running in college.”

4. What schools were you considering during your recruitment process?
“LSU.”

5. What made UNC-Charlotte stand out?
“The last 2 years they won the recruiting class and I have friends on the team. They also have a very good program. It sounded like a big bet.”

6. Who was the most impactful person throughout your youth athletic career?
“Definitely my dad because if I had a bad race or something, he would always be on me, or if I ever needed anything he would always hook me up.”

7. What major do you plan on pursuing?
“Business or accounting and post grad with a CIA and MBA.”