The 2025-2026 season was Blair Bartlett’s first time running cross country. 

But that didn’t stop her from representing Team USA at the U-20 World Cross Championships. 

Bartlett has been setting the track on fire since she first exploded onto the scene her freshman year competing for The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. Now a junior, Bartlett has added more accolades to her name—2x National runner-up, Team USA member, and 2nd-all time 3200m time for high schoolers. 

We caught up with Bartlett and her coach, Derrhyl Duncan Jr., to talk about her cross country success, advice for elite athletes, and the importance of keeping the joy in sport. 

Bartlett’s 2025-2026 Season

In the fall of 2024, you could have found Bartlett on the tennis courts for The Lawrenceville School. Off the courts, though, she was still getting her miles in for track training. 

“We had a plan that allowed her to still train on the side, so entering XC season, while running in meets was new, she was no stranger to fall training,” Duncan said. 

Adding races to the fall schedule in 2025 did, however, mean that Bartlett’s focus year-round would be on training and racing. This transition isn’t always an easy one to make, even with her experience with fall training. 

“The first thing on our agenda was rest. We needed to make sure we were completely fresh when entering the cross country season,” Coach Duncan told VIS. 

Heading into the fall rested and ready meant Bartlett could extend her season through high school national meets like Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) and Brooks XC Nationals. It also meant that when the opportunity came to represent Team USA at World Cross Country Championships, Bartlett wasn’t burned out. She was fired up. 

Coming off of a runner-up finish in both XC National meets, Blair reflected on the enjoyment she found at NXN, saying, “I’ll always remember the amazing environment, especially on the starting line, with everyone lined up and excited to complete and push themselves to the next level… the dynamic at NXN was so exciting!” 

It was this runner-up finish that earned Bartlett her spot on the Team USA U-20 World team for the championship meet in January 2026. 

Heading into Blair’s first World championship meet, first time racing athletes outside of high school, and first time racing six kilometers, Duncan and Bartlett built a race plan on realism and confidence. 

“The biggest piece of advice was that we weren’t going to pretend like this was just another meet because it wasn’t. I let her know that of the hundreds of people there, she is one of few that will be able to dictate how things go on the course so she should be confident, know that she belongs there and know that she’s ready,” Duncan said. 

With cross country, so much can be out of your control, which can feel overwhelming and stressful. Bartlett and Duncan planned for this by practicing being aware of things outside of their control—like rain, mud, or puddles—but not focusing on them. 

Bartlett executed the World Cross Country Championship race like a seasoned veteran, finishing first for Team USA and 16th overall. “She did an awesome job of that—constantly pivoting to the most effective strategy throughout the race,” Duncan said. 

Anyone watching would never have guessed it was her first season on the grass. 

“Passions outside of sport help me to understand what matters to me and why, keeping me grounded and focused on what I love.”

Blair Bartlett

Diverse Interests

This success didn’t come from focusing her entire life on running, though. It came from hard work and lots of miles, but it also came from having passions outside of sport, too. Bartlett’s talent for running was clear from the moment she stepped onto the track, but running doesn’t dominate her mindset. 

Off the track, Bartlett is passionate about sustainability and is involved in climate action clubs at her school. Before she ran cross country this past season, Bartlett spent her time in the fall on the tennis courts instead. 

“I love to stay busy,” Bartlett said, “passions outside of sport help me to understand what matters to me and why, keeping me grounded and focused on what I love.”

This mindset keeps Bartlett chasing the joy that brought her into running in the first place. “Running has brought me so much joy… it’s allowed me to test my own limits and I love looking for ways to improve while knowing that each day of running brings new lessons,” she said. 

For other young athletes thinking about making the switch to a new sport, Bartlett has only positive things to say: “I would tell them to go for it! Sports can bring so much joy and trying something new can be hugely satisfying.”

Community Culture 

A major part of that joy for Bartlett is the people in her sport. “I’m grateful for the relationships formed through running and for the chance to get to know so many amazing people—from the team at school to runners from all over,” she said. 

This community aspect drives success for the whole team at Lawrenceville, not just for Bartlett. 

“Our team culture is everything.. We are a family and we treat each other as such which has easily made this the most encouraging team I’ve ever been a part of. They push each other but only from a position that they truly want the best for each other and they understand that it takes all of us to achieve the goals that we have. It’s truly special,” Duncan said about the Lawrenceville team. 

This culture often starts with the coach. “I take pride in making sure I embody the same standards that I expect from them which also keeps me on my toes,” Duncan said.  

Establishing this mutual respect and trust is key to building community and developing athletes for long-term success. “I try to get to know them and identify the unique qualities they have, how they communicate and how they respond to the various stimuli that come with the sport. Once I have an idea of that and we've established trust in each other, I'm able to find the best ways to support them,” Duncan explained. 

For Duncan, Bartlett, and Lawrenceville, this often means one-on-one check-ins and conversations to make sure that every single athlete feels heard and respected. Duncan never misses an opportunity to share encouragement or positive feedback with the athletes he coaches, either. 

Establishing the behavioral standard on the team to be supportive, respectful, and positive prepares Lawrenceville to continue the dominance on the track they’ve been enjoying in recent years. 

“Our team culture is everything.. We are a family and we treat each other as such which has easily made this the most encouraging team I’ve ever been a part of. ”

Coach Derrhyl Duncan Jr.

Coach’s Corner

Duncan coaches a variety of events on the girls and boys side for The Lawrenceville school—from the sprints to the distance events. A former professional sprinter himself and author of Coach’s Playbook: A Guide for Inspiring Great Athletes and Great People, Duncan shared advice for coaches managing multiple events and elite young talent like Bartlett. 

Balancing multiple training plans comes down to one key aspect: time management.“I want to make sure I’m spending my time effectively so I can get everything done, but more importantly, I want to make sure that all of my athletes feel like they’re getting the time they need from me,” Duncan said. 

When it comes to crafting training plans, Duncan said that coaches should remember that all runners need the same things in different ways. They all need speed training, aerobic training, mental fortitude, effective rest, and focused recovery. 

And when it comes to coaching elite young talent like Bartlett, the goal is to allow athletes to learn and develop a love for the sport and the process. For Duncan, he focuses on sharing information, lessons, and encouragement with his athletes. 

His biggest advice for fellow coaches, though, is to be patient. 

“This is a strange time within our sport where kids are faster than ever and there are a lot of coaches that want to accelerate the learning and growth process to try to make the next superstar,” he said. This accelerated approach isn’t always the best for the athletes’ long-term success, even when coaches have their athletes’ best interests at heart. 

Instead, coaches should remember that they’re developing, too. 

“Remember that you're learning too and the process is neverending,” Duncan said. “[Coaches] should be patient with themselves and stay hungry for improvement. I like to think I'm never the same coach this year that I was last year.”

“Coaches should be patient with themselves and stay hungry for improvement. I like to think I'm never the same coach this year that I was last year.”

Coach Derrhyl Duncan Jr.

Bartlett in 2026 

So far in 2026, Bartlett has written her name into the record books when she ran the #2 US High School 3200m time, breaking the New Jersey state record in the process. She also nabbed a third-place finish in the high school mile at The Millrose Games and ran a personal best in the 800m, showcasing astonishing range. 

Looking ahead, the Nike Elite signee will represent Lawrenceville, chase national titles, and keep the joy at the center of the sport.