Sophomore Olivia Leemon and senior Autumn Wilson represented Blackburn College on Saturday, February 4, at the Jim Green Invite on the campus of Illinois College. Blackburn was one of eighteen teams competing, including six from the SLIAC alongside a variety of D2, D3, and NAIA programs.

Leemon competed in the Mile run for the second consecutive week and shaved nine seconds off of her time, completing the race in 6:46.21. Leemon was the fourth finisher from the SLIAC teams at the meet. Wilson competed in the open 400 meters for the first time this season (and in her college career!), finishing with an outstanding time of 1:12.74.

Coach Al Sturgeon said, “I’m always proud of Autumn and Olivia, and Saturday was no exception. Autumn ran the shorter sprints in high school and has worked hard to adapt to the 400, which is the longest sprint. I had hoped for a 1:13 and she came in under that goal. And Olivia pushed herself this week—dropping nine seconds off a Mile time in a week is no small accomplishment!”

The indoor team will return to Illinois College for the Hilltop Classic on Friday, February 17.