Isle of Wight Academy does not have a track team, but it does have a representative on the track at the varsity level.

Eighth-grader Betsy Pollard of Suffolk trains with a Tidewater Striders youth running group and then competes in private school meets as an IWA athlete. She represented the school well this season in outdoor track, continuing to improve on her career-best times.

She produced a personal record time of 2:42 in the 800-meter run and finished the 1600-meter run in five minutes and 57 seconds, good for another PR. She also ran her fastest mile yet – five minutes and 42 seconds.

Pollard has been a trailblazer at Isle of Wight Academy in more than one way. A couple of years ago, she made a proposal to the school to start a track team. While that has yet to come to fruition, IWA responded by organizing a cross country squad and supporting her in track meets.

During the cross country season, she ran the 5K in a personal record time of 21:31 to become an All-Metro Conference athlete.

Pollard hones her abilities as a runner by competing in area one-mile and 5K races with the Suffolk New Energy Running Club.

This summer, she will be busy trying to qualify for both the Amateur Athletic Union and USA Track and Field Junior Olympic championships.

Also an avid piano player, Pollard recently was awarded the Tidewater Music Teachers Forum David Carr Glover Scholarship. She submitted a written application about what music means to her and performed in front of a panel of judges to earn the $300 award.

Pollard plays keyboards in the IWA band. Her piano teacher is Joan Edwards.