Eugene, OR - Lane Community College's Director of Cross Country/Track & Field, Grady O'Connor, recently announced the hiring of Mike Blackmore as the new Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country/Assistant Track & Field Coach for the Lane Titans.

Blackmore has had a positive presence in the Eugene running community going back to his days competing at the University of Oregon, where he was an NCAA All-American and sub-four minute miler, running 3:57, and a scoring member of the 1984 Men’s NCAA Outdoor National Championship Track & Field team. A member of three USA teams, he was the 1987 World University Games Silver Medalist at 5000m. Recently, Blackmore was the Head Cross Country coach at Churchill High School the last five years, where one of his many highlights was coaching State Champion Russell Drummond in the 800m in 2008.

The Prosser, WA native has had a renaissance in his own running the last few years, becoming one of the best Masters runners in the United States and the World, running times of 4:03 in the 1500m, 15:16 in the 5000m, and 31:46 in the 10,000m, while also capturing Masters National Championships in the 800m and 5000m in 2010 and just recently claiming a National title in his age group for the U.S. Half Marathon Trail Championships.

Blackmore graduated from the University of Oregon with a Master’s of Science degree in Athletic Training and has been a licensed massage therapist since 1998. He has also worked at Steens Mountain Running Camp dating back to the 1980’s and has attended and been a featured speaker at the prestigious coaching clinic the JA Summit. Blackmore’s knowledge of the human body and his experience coaching and working with distance runners will help continue the strong tradition Lane Community College has had in the distance events.