As the sound of heavy breathing and the solid pounding of feet on rubber filled the air, the members of Belmont Hill Track looked on in amazement. Cam Hall ‘17, having not warmed up prior to his 400m dash, achieved a new personal best and qualified for the 4x400m team under immense pressure. While Cam’s natural talent had played a role in his accomplishment, his ever-present determination and grit carried him to new heights.
Cam began his career at the Meadowbrook School, where he dominated his adolescent peers in cross country, cultivating in an outstanding finish at the Roxbury Latin Jamboree. After a two-year stint as Meadowbrook’s captain, Cam attained his goal of making varsity in both cross country and track upon acceptance to Belmont Hill under the tutelage of both his older brother Alex, an alumnus of the School (2014) and two-time varsity cross country captain, and Coach Trautz. Cam has displayed all of the best qualities of a Belmont Hill distance runner, appearing at nearly all races and practices, serving as de facto captain in stretching exercises, and teaching the younger members on the team from his experiences. Even while many of his teammates groan and gripe about hard workouts, Cam always comes to practice, regardless of the day’s events, with a smile on his face. His relentless positivity infects the rest of the team and leads to much more enjoyable experiences.
In track, Cam has run a variety of events; while Cam persevered through the brutal 1500m, an event which combines both sprints and endurance, in his earlier years, he has transitioned to perhaps an even harder test of true speed: the 800m. A testament to his versatility, Cam’s ability to work wherever the team requires him has given the squad much-needed depth; in a sport where injuries seem to occur as often as sprinters bolt through each lap, one cannot understate this luxury. Looking ahead to the spring, Cam has a phenomenal chance to break the School’s 800m record. Even without these accolades, Cam would retain his status as a valued member of Belmont Hill Track and Cross Country; through his pure love for sport and leadership qualities, he epitomizes the ideal Belmont Hill athlete.