Bethlehem Catholic High School graduate, Mara Blanchard, is planning to continue her track and field career at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa.

The District XI champion pole vaulter had expressed interest in other universities in addition to Lafayette, but was swayed by a number of reasons to settle on Lafayette.

"My sister went to Lafayette, and they showed interest, so I was set on Lafayette. I really like their academic program. They have engineering and liberal arts, and they have a great [track and field] team, so that helped," Blanchard said.

The Leopards' head coach is Michele Curcio, and Kurt Dunn is the pole vaulting coach.

"She actually recruited me and told me about the program and how academics are important. She talked about Elise [Buffinton] and Claire [Murphy] and how they led the team in pole vaulting this year," said Blanchard.

Blanchard is looking forward to an altogether new and different experience once she arrives at Lafayette.

"I'd really like to sprint, but I know they have a lot of really great girls right now, but hopefully, in the future. The coach said I would possibly be doing the long jump," she said.

Blanchard's personal record is 11-0 in the pole vault. At Bethlehem Catholic, Blanchard also competed in the 100 meter, 200 meter, 4x1 relay, 4x4 relay, and the long jump, her newest event.

Coincidentally, Blanchard found her roommate, Freedom graduate, Alexa Deemer, on Lafayette's Facebook page. Deemer, a distance runner, will also compete on Lafayette's track and field team.