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News Brief

June 4, 2024DENVER, Co.

Blackford runs from All-State to Boston Marathon Qualifier

Maryville alumnus Connor Blackford qualified for the Boston Marathon over the weekend.

Two weeks after medaling in the mile at state, Connor Blackford ran his first marathon. (Photo courtesy Connor Blackford)

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Two weeks after completing his high school athletic career, Maryville's Connor Blackford set his sights on his biggest challenge yet.

Blackford conquered the Revel Rockies Marathon outside Denver, CO on Saturday.

"It's been my goal for a couple years now to wrap up my running career in high school with a marathon," Blackford said.

Not only did he accomplish the feat of running 26.2 miles, but he did it in a Boston Marathon qualifying time. Blackford crossed the finish line in 2:41:52, a pace of 6:10 per mile.

"I got out there and tried to conserve through the first few miles, but with the downhill it really pulled me through and I think I opened at like a 6:07 (per mile pace) and I was like 'oh my gosh, I guess this is how it's going to go.' I still thought I would hit a wall and have to take a stop at some point, but the miles kept clicking off."

As an all-state performer in cross country and track & field, and the Maryville record holder in the 1600m, the recent Spoofhound graduate has shown he has the chops for distance running. But prior to last weekend, he had never ran longer than 13.1 miles at one time.

Blackford credits Maryville cross country and track coach Rodney Bade for having him ready despite not going through a typical marathon training regimen.

"I really only got five or six runs in between the end of track season and the marathon. It wasn't a whole lot of marathon-focused training there, but track, and even from cross country season, definitely carried over really well. That speaks a lot to Coach Bade's training. It could really be used for about any race."

Registration for the Boston Marathon doesn't open until September.

Blackford says he doesn't know if he will have this opportunity again, and would like to go for it while he can.

"I thought I would almost hate the experience a little bit and just want to be done with it, but it's definitely a motivator now."

Our full interview with Connor Blackford is available above.