BLACKBURN COLLEGE TO LAUNCH CLAY TARGET COMPETITIVE CLUB SPORT IN 2026

CARLINVILLE, ILL. – Blackburn College has announced the addition of clay target as a co-ed competitive club sport, marking another significant step forward in the College's vision to expand opportunities for student involvement inside and outside the classroom. The new team adds another dimension to Blackburn's vibrant campus community.

Set to begin competition in 2026, the new clay target team will give students a unique opportunity to pair a high-quality education with the advantages of the school's one-of-a-kind Work Program while continuing to compete in a sport they love.

"Clay Target is a natural fit for Blackburn," said Kim Camara-Harvey, Director of Athletics. "It's one of the fastest-growing sports in our region, with strong high school participation in Illinois and across the Midwest. We already have students on campus who participated while they were in high school and would love to continue their passion at Blackburn. This sport resonates with our community and offers student-athletes the opportunity to represent Blackburn in a growing collegiate sport.  We're thrilled to add another way for our students to connect, compete, and share in the energy that comes from being part of Blackburn Athletics."

Clay target shooting has seen rapid growth nationwide and is especially popular in central Illinois, where access to excellent local facilities provides an ideal setting for collegiate competition and training.

"We're confident this program has the potential to become nationally competitive, and we're excited to recruit dedicated student-athletes who will help us achieve that vision."