Al Sturgeon, new head coach of the Blackburn Women’s Cross Country team, has named Olivia Leemon team captain for the 2022 season. Coach Sturgeon said, “Olivia is only a freshman, but her leadership ability was apparent as she competed in the fall. Olivia was Blackburn’s top finisher at the SLIAC conference meet and was selected to the All-Sportsmanship Team. I am excited that we will get to benefit from her leadership for several years!”

Coach Sturgeon added, “In just her short time on campus, Olivia has established herself as a leader outside of cross country. Olivia was selected as an RA (“Resident Assistant”) in Jones-Allison Hall for the spring semester and is already making an impact. She is super talented, but more importantly, Olivia is a genuine person with a good heart and wisdom beyond her years.”

Olivia is from Marissa, Illinois, majoring in graphic design. Her favorite hobbies are painting and drawing, and her dream job is to be a children’s book illustrator. Olivia’s favorite running memory is “a lovely 10-mile snow run” with her mother, and her top bucket list item is to visit every aquarium in the United States (Olivia added, “The ethical ones of course.”).

When asked why she chose Blackburn College, Olivia said, “I loved the sense of community that came with Blackburn from everything I had seen. I also deeply appreciated the way the school makes an effort to be truly accepting of all people.”