Linton Hall, Sacred Heart Students Run in Legacy Race

Posted

From Back Primary grade students from Linton Hall School and Sacred Heart begin their 2K race on Linton Hall campus.

Linton Hall School (LHS) and Sacred Heart Academy students in grades one through eight participated in the 24th Annual Great Ghost Chase Friday morning. It is an annual trail race that began on the Bristow campus of Linton Hall School back in 1951.

Great Ghost Chase History

Max DuCharme and two other military men originated the race back in 1951 when LHS was a boys-only Catholic military academy and boarding school.

The race was named for the campfire tales one commander often told his cadets. According to his story, the ghost of Colonel Linton still wandered his earthly estate at night, the campus of Linton Hall School.

Although the tale was not based on actual sightings as much as it was a clever ruse to keep the boys from wandering around the campus late at night, a legend was born!

DuCharme applied the concept of Linton’s ghost to the 5K and 10K races that the boys would run along with competitors - both boys and girls from other schools and the community at large. The race grew so popular that in its third year, Runners World listed it among the nation's top 75 races.

When LHS became a K-8 co-education school in 1988, the school did not initially hold the race. Two years later, faculty members recognized the importance of carrying on the tradition, and the Great Ghost Chase returned to Linton Hall in 1990.

StartLineMiddleGroup Upper grade students stand at the starting line, ready to begin their 4K around campus.

Great Ghost Chase Today

In 2014, the Great Ghost Chase continues to honor the tradition of the past, but has been revised to meet the needs of elementary and middle school aged students.

In recent years, 7 to 10 year olds run a 2K race with heats organized by age. Eleven to 14 year olds run a 4K, which is just short of 2.5 miles. Their heats are also arranged by age. Those over 14 years of age, including parents, teachers, faculty, siblings and alums, are also invited to compete amongst each other.

Trophies are awarded to the top three boy and girl runners in each age category, to the top place male and female runners in the over 14 category and to winning team members in each race.

The race is an invitational, so other schools are invited to take part. This year Sacred Heart Academy, a K-8 Catholic school in Winchester, Virginia joined the race. Top runners from each school per age group category made up a qualifying team.

This Year's Run

This year’s run held much excitement for students, parents and everyone involved. Peg Clark, Linton Hall social studies and math teacher for the upper grades, acted as faculty representative and organizer of the race, along with Denise Preble, parent representative.

Clark said it’s a blast every year. Linton Hall relies upon parent volunteers to monitor the children at numerous points throughout the race, which takes place mainly on the school's sprawling campus. Parents help faculty to mark the route, and clean up afterward as well.

In the school's gymnasium, teacher Peg Clark directs students on how to run the race safely. In the school's gymnasium, teacher Peg Clark directs students on how to safely run the race.

In honor of one special parent and Linton Hall School supporter, the late Fred Potter, Linton Hall School annually offers an award to the most school spirited and sportsman-like.

Clark praised Potter for his dedicated support of the school, which all four of his children attended.

“He was just a really neat guy. He was a parent who was a huge supporter of our athletic events, of everything we did,” Clark said.

This year, Potter’s daughter Jackie, a Battlefield High School student, represented her father by running in the race. She brought her best friend Emily Beitzell with her, another Linton Hall graduate, and both girls ran in Potter's memory.

“I knew it was really important to him,” Jackie said.

Along with parents, graduates and faculty, current students displayed their enthusiasm for the race. In the school gymnasium, students warmed up for their race, and discussed their goals.

Eighth grade students Nikki Rafferty and Kate Himes, who placed in previous years, said they hoped to do so again.

“I’m going to try to get third at least,” Rafferty said.

Rafferty credits her previous successes to all of the running she routinely does in basketball and lacrosse. Himes gets similar training playing lacrosse and swimming.

Younger students were even more excited about running their 2Ks. Skylar O’Hara, who completed her race before speaking with Bristow Beat, said she thought the race was “really fun.”

Skylar came in third place among girls in the second-grade division. She believes she gained her endurance from playing soccer, saying, “I have to run a lot of laps.” She also ran a race at Sacred Heart School.

Students start the race strong trying to establish their lead. Students start the race strong, trying to break out from the pack.

Classmate Connor Wightman came in second among boys in his second-grade group.

“I run a lot with my mom and my dad. I swim; I play basketball, soccer and baseball,” Connor said.

Connor said he was hoping to earn at least get 10th place, so he was very happy with his placement.

“It feels good,” he said.

Administrators at Linton Hall School said they that expect to carry on the tradition of the run and hope more schools will elect to participate in future years.

More About Linton Hall School

Founded in 1922, Linton Hall School, a ministry of the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia, is a preschool through eighth grade independent Catholic school that remains true to the 1,500-year-old Benedictine tradition of educating the whole person — body, mind, and spirit — promoting development of our students through challenging academics, competitive athletics, creative arts and a deep understanding of the Catholic faith. Linton Hall School consistently graduates students who are prepared for the academic, spiritual, and social challenges of high school.

Teachers, parent and alumni join in the race. Teachers, parent and alumni join in the race.

The Linton Hall School’s Little Sprouts Preschool Program is an excellent opportunity for children aged two and a half to five years to develop the skills for life-long learning. An atmosphere is provided that encourages children’s overall development. Our curriculum is age-appropriate and fosters growth in all areas.

Readers can visit the Linton Hall School website, or contact Maren Finkel, Director of Admissions via email mfinkel@lintonhall.edu, or by calling, Linton Hall School (703) 368-3157, or her office (571) 428-2532.

2k, 4k, campus, featured, full-image, great-ghost-chase, legacy, linton-hall-school, race, run, running, sacred-heart, school, students, tradition, trail