With picture-perfect weather on Friday, April 7, seven members of the Blackburn men’s track team turned in solid performances at the IC True Blue Invite in Jacksonville, Illinois. In addition to contributions from Izzy Talmadge (long jump); Will Teig (200m); Tate Kunzeman (400m); Locke Hord and Hayden Fox (800m); and Landan Tribble and Luke Bell (1500m), the performance of the day was turned in by the men’s 4 x 400-meter relay team. Kunzeman, Fox, Talmadge, and Hord ran the fourth fastest time in the SLIAC so far this outdoor season with a 3:42.36. The time took off over seven seconds from a fantastic 4 x 400 performance at the SLIAC indoor championships.

Coach Al Sturgeon said, “I am proud of the performances turned in by all seven men, but two really stood out today. First, Locke Hord’s 2:14 in the 800 meters was so fun to watch. I have been telling Locke that I wanted to see him in the 800 since cross country season, and he did not disappoint. And second, the 4 x 400 team’s performance was an amazing way to finish the day. In particular, Izzy Talmadge’s split (53.7) blew me away. This was our first chance to see Izzy compete on the track, and he really showed us what he can do!”

The team travels to Greenville next Saturday, April 15, for the Greenville University Select Meet, which will be the final meet in preparation for the SLIAC Outdoor Championships back at Greenville on Saturday, April 29.