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blackburn: I served as the Head Field Judge, the same role I will have at the High School State Championship. In addition, at Taco Bell I was a representative of the National Scholastic Sports Foundation (NSSF). The Taco Bell Classic is one of the meets we have designated as an NSSF Select Meet. As such, we provide travel funding to help some athletes get to the meet. Our goal in this project is to raise the level of competition at these meets and to provide more opportunities for top athletes to compete against each other.
scrunners: What do you do with the sport of track and field in the state of South Carolina and in the nation?
blackburn: I am involved in several capacities, in addition to the NSSF, which conducts the adidas Outdoor Championships, Great American Cross Country Festival, and the Nike Indoor Championships. I am currently the chair of the Rules Committee of USA Track & Field (USATF) and have served on the Officials Committee. I have been active in a range of positions within the South Carolina Association of USATF.
scrunners: When did you start to work with the sport of track and field? Do you also work with cross-country?
blackburn: I started officiating in 1988. Yes, I officiate at cross country events as well.
scrunners: What interested yourself to start working with track and field? When did you first become interested in track and field?
blackburn: I had never been to a track meet until my freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania. I read about the Penn Relays in the school paper and went to the Thursday session. And the Friday and the Saturday sessions, and was hooked on track. I continued as a spectator/fan through college. When I went to NC State for graduate school, I contacted Coach Geiger about getting involved in the sport and he put me in touch with the officials group.
scrunners: What are your responsibilities at the 2004 Olympics in Athens? How did you obtain this position?
blackburn: I will be serving as an International Technical Official (ITO) at the Olympic Games. An ITO is an oversight official, much like an event specific referee. There will be 10 ITOs in Athens. Over the past 6 years I have attended several training courses and exams conducted by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) the worldwide governing body for track and field. As a result of those exams I am not certified by the IAAF as an ITO.
scrunners: What other meets do you work with in the nation?
blackburn: I work at meets at all levels from Junior Olympics to the highest levels. I particularly enjoy high school-aged athletes.
scrunners: Are you from South Carolina? If so what high school did you attend, and did you play any sports in high school and/or college?
blackburn: I was born in Philadelphia and went to high school in Montclair, NJ. I did not compete in sports in high school or college, but played saxophone in the concert and marching bands.
scrunners: What do you see happening with the sport of track and field and cross-county in the future? How will you be involved and what would you like to see happen?
blackburn: I am very pleased at the current level of high school track here in South Carolina. Because of the dedication of coaches and athletes, the level of performance at the top level has improved remarkably over the past 10 years. I intend to remain active both in state-wide activities and national.
scrunners: How many track meets do you attend per year?
blackburn: Probably about 15 meets.
scrunners: What is the most prestigious meet you have been involved with?
blackburn: I was a competition official (clerk) at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. I served as an ITO at the World Youth Championships last summer in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
scrunners: Do you have anyone that helps you with track and field?
blackburn: I am pleased to be associated with many people in the sport, particularly athletes, officials, coaches, and meet organizers. Without the large number of committed volunteers, many fewer opportunities would be available for the athletes. And after all, it is all about the athletes.
scrunners: How many hours per week do you spend working with the sport?
blackburn: Too many.