When incoming students commit to Christian Brothers Academy, they hear plenty about the tradition that surrounds the CBA community. However, it isn’t until their first week of school that these freshmen experience that heralded camaraderie for the first time.

There may not be a high school tradition in the nation better than the Heath Freshman Run, which kicked-off the Freshmen Welcome Day activities.

Now named after CBA’s longtime cross country coach, Tom Heath ’65, the Freshman Run is a 1.3-mile race around the 157-acre campus that every freshman has run dating back to the school’s opening in 1959. The run was originally intended as a recruiting tool for the cross country team, but has become a staple of the Academy tradition. Although retired from teaching and coaching, Heath returned to blow the official start gun for Thursday’s Run.

The race was won by Nicholas Sullivan, who joins the 60 previous champions in CBA history. Sullivan tied the Freshman Run record with a time of 6:51.7.

A tradition that binds current students and alumni, the Freshman Run demonstrates many of the characteristics that will describe the Class of 2023’s four years at CBA: hard work, challenges, achievement, and most importantly, brotherhood.

After the Run, the freshmen took part in field day style activities, including relay races, tug-of-war, basketball, and more, which are designed to help the newest CBA student bond with their classmates.