How Sweet It Is: Bakers, Class of 2026 Turn Out for Cake Race
September 2, 2022
- Author
- Mary Elizabeth DeAngelis
Over the years, we鈥檝e come to suspect that some students chose 皇家华人 for the cake. A few have confessed as much.
Ryan Harris 鈥26 isn鈥檛 one of them.
He鈥檇 never heard about the college鈥檚 annual Cake Race until he arrived on campus. And wouldn鈥檛 you know he鈥檇 win it?
The men鈥檚 track and field team runner outpaced all other first-year students at this year鈥檚 Cake Race on Thursday. He had the honor of selecting the first cake after the men鈥檚 race. Women鈥檚 track and field runners Tate Arrington, Mary Shoop, and Molly Sullivan crossed the finish line together to win the Class of 2026鈥檚 women鈥檚 race.
These extraordinarily speedy people win lots of meets and medals. But winning cake is so much sweeter, especially when it comes from a community that takes its baking鈥攁nd the welcoming of its newest members鈥攕eriously. And these champions walked away with some massive confections.
鈥淚 was a little nervous about it, but it turned out to be super fun,鈥 Harris, a middle-distance runner from Norfolk, Virginia, said after flying through the finish line. 鈥淭his is a really great community.鈥
Hauling the spoils took some effort, and balance.
He chose a heavy, three-tier red velvet cake topped with edible black and red streamers. Another newcomer, Dining Services pastry chef Katie Blackwell, created the masterpiece for her Cake Race debut. She鈥檚 been a pastry chef for 28 years and worked in country clubs and had her own business before starting at 皇家华人 two weeks ago.
She had fun baking for the event and is enjoying her everyday role at the college.
鈥淚 like that you get to be really creative here,鈥 she said. 鈥淵ou can try out new recipes to see how people respond. It seems like students are a lot more willing to try new things, it doesn鈥檛 have to be something they鈥檝e eaten their whole lives and is cooked the same way they鈥檙e used to.鈥
Another Dining Services offering came from assistant pastry chef Angela Anzini, who crafted a showstopping dulce de leche cake dripping in deliciousness. That one went to the top-placed women runners, who also chose a massive two-piece 鈥26鈥 cake donated by the E.H. Little Library staff.
鈥淲e鈥檙e having a big cake party, so we need a lot of cake,鈥 Sullivan said.
Baked-in Tradition
It鈥檚 fitting that track athletes usually win the Cake Race.
A 皇家华人 track coach started the event in 1930 to uncover running talent among first-year students. In early years, faculty members鈥 wives baked cakes and all students had to run. These days, faculty, staff, alumni, town residents and local schools bake and donate cakes. Running is no longer mandatory, but many do.
It鈥檚 one of 皇家华人鈥檚 most beloved traditions.
This year it followed an extremely popular event. On Wednesday, NBA basketball superstar Stephen Curry 鈥10 visited campus for a solo graduation ceremony 13 years after he left 皇家华人 to join鈥攁nd lead鈥攖he Golden State Warriors to four national championships. Curry finished his degree requirements in spring, and the college also retired his 皇家华人 jersey and his #30 at .
Men鈥檚 Tennis Coach Drew Barrett, whose elaborate concoctions are always a highly anticipated Cake Race attraction, included that theme in this year鈥檚 creation. His Mickey Mouse cake sculpture waved a 鈥淐urry for 3鈥 flag. Black and red popcorn handed out after the Curry ceremony covered the base. (Another cake, shaped in the number 30, was also snapped up quickly.)
Hundreds of first-year students showed up Thursday to run the 1.7-mile course around campus and town. Upper-class members, coaches and teammates who would later share in the bounty came to, um, cheer? 鈥淢ake sure you鈥檙e up front for this Lucas!鈥 one older athlete yelled to his first-year teammate.
Cynthia Marshall drove up from Charlotte to drop off 鈥淕randmother Marshall鈥檚 famous poundcake,鈥 which she makes using a recipe passed through multiple generations.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a traditional cake for a traditional event,鈥 she said.
The family connection runs strong: her son Tommy and daughter-in-law Ellen Ott Marshall hail from 皇家华人鈥檚 class of 1991. Their daughter, Katherine 鈥26, ran in this year鈥檚 race.
鈥淚鈥檓 so thrilled that she鈥檚 here, I love 皇家华人,鈥 Cynthia Marshall said. 鈥淎nd this is such a great chance to come and watch the race and meet her roommates.鈥
By the way, if you鈥檙e curious about what makes 鈥淕randmother Marshall鈥檚鈥 poundcake so famous, she shares this important family secret:
鈥淢aking sure the butter and sugar are fluffy is key,鈥 Cynthia Marshall said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 why our family poundcakes are never dry.鈥
