Lawrenceville School standout eclipses record set last season by Randolph’s Abbey Loveys to elevate to No. 8 all-time performer, including second among sophomores, at Van Cortlandt Park

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Charlotte Bednar didn’t have to wait until the postseason this year to square off against several of her elite national peers.

And just like Bednar did last year when she earned All-America honors at Nike Cross Nationals, The Lawrenceville School NJ sophomore was up to the challenge Saturday at the 47th Manhattan Cross Country Invitational.

Bednar enjoyed an impressive debut at Van Cortlandt Park, not only placing fourth in the Eastern States Championship race, but producing a New Jersey state record by clocking 14 minutes, 1.4 seconds on the 2.5-mile layout.

RESULTS | PHOTOS

“It was exciting to compete at this historic course against some of the most talented runners in the nation,” said Bednar, who eclipsed the New Jersey mark of 14:03 achieved last season by Eastern States winner Abbey Loveys of Randolph High.

“I think that this level of competition helped me to maintain a faster pace. It is one of my most notable accomplishments so far.”

When Bednar placed 12th at Nike Cross Nationals last season as the top freshman in the race representing Hun School of Princeton, the New York trio of North Rockland’s Katelyn Tuohy, Fayetteville-Manlius’ Claire Walters and Tully’s Brooke Rauber all finished in the top six.

In the first showdown this year with her fellow NXN All-Americans, it was again Tuohy (13:33.2), Walters (13:45.9) and Rauber (13:52.1) who finished ahead of Bednar. All four athletes rank among the top eight performers in Van Cortlandt Park history.

“I really enjoy these competitive races, especially one of this caliber,” Bednar said. “I am looking forward to running in the Nike and possibly Foot Locker races. The Manhattan Invitational race helped me to see where I stand among this level of runners.”

Bednar had enjoyed dominant victories in 5-kilometer races at the Briarwood Invitational, Six Flags Wild Safari Invitational and New Balance Shore Coaches Invitational, prevailing by at least 40 seconds in all three races.

But against a significant boost in competition on a course where she had not previously competed, Bednar relied on as much input from Lawrenceville coach Katie Chaput as possible in preparation for her biggest regular-season challenge.

“Coach Chaput walked part of the course with me prior to the race, but we were not permitted to cross the bridge, so that area was an unknown. Coach Chaput emphasized using the downhill to my advantage,” Bednar said. “In the future, I would start off faster since it narrows considerably once entering the woods. It was a challenge to pass others at that point. Coach Chaput mentioned that I was about 15th entering the woods, so I would hope to be closer to the front as I enter the woods next time.”

In addition to achieving the New Jersey record, Bednar also ascended to the No. 2 sophomore performer in meet history, trailing only the all-time course mark of 13:21.8 produced by Tuohy in 2017.

“Breaking the New Jersey record far exceeded my expectations,” Bednar said. “I have two more years to race at Van Cortlandt and my goal is to break 14 minutes.”

Bednar has a pair of tuneups remaining in October at the Mercer County Championship and Mid-Atlantic Prep League Championships, before looking to repeat as winner at the NJISAA Prep Championships and trying to lead Lawrenceville to another team title Nov. 6 at Blair Academy.

“In preparation, coach Chaput mentioned that I will be working on my speed. This will include shorter interval training at a faster pace,” Bednar said. “There will be some terrific competition, particularly on a team level.”