Blackburn Shows Progress at Principia Relays

ELSAH, IL – The Blackburn College track and field teams showed continued progress at the Principia Relays on January 30–31, highlighted by multiple school records and strong performances across events.

Freshman Sophia Palmier turned in one of the standout performances of the weekend. Palmier scored 1,774 points in the pentathlon, setting a new school record while becoming the first Blackburn athlete to compete in the event. She also established new program marks in the 60-meter hurdles (13.09) during the pentathlon and the 500-meter run (1:37), improving upon the previous record of 1:40 in the 500.

Freshman Tristan Toss delivered a strong showing, advancing to the finals in the long jump and setting a new school record with a mark of 6.35 meters, breaking the previous standard of 6.29 meters. Toss also competed in the 60-meter dash later in the meet.

Thrower Leland Branstner put together a productive weekend, setting school records in both the shot put (13.05 meters) and the weight throw (11.45 meters). The shot put mark improved upon the previous record of 12.65 meters, while the weight throw record was the first in program history.

Freshman Maya Bennett continued to lower her own school records in the sprints, running 8.61 in the 60 meters and 29.79 in the 200 meters, improving upon her previous bests in both events.

In the distance events, Samuel Schoeneweis broke the school record in the 5,000 meters, finishing in 20:16.97 to surpass the previous mark of 20:40. Sam Burrows added another record for Blackburn in the mile, running 4:46.41 to break his own record of 4:49.

Sophomore Byron McNeil set a new school standard in the triple jump, recording a mark of 13.51 meters and improving upon the previous record of 13.37.

The men’s distance medley relay team of Collyn Oberkfell, Byron McNeil, Kendrik Troutt, and Sam Burrows closed the meet by setting a school record with a time of 11:51.