Hall of Fame
Blandford will be the first of many Truman women's swimmers to be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame. Blandford was a three-time national qualifier for the Bulldogs, earning trips to the national meet in 1994, 1995, and 1996. As a freshman, blandford broke four school records. She set a new mark in the 100 freestyles event with a time of 54.48 only to break the mark again two years later with a time of 53.12. She also set a new mark in the 200 free with a time of 1:58.79 that had stood for eight years. Blandford would break the 200 free mark each yar finishing with a time of 1:54.09. The 200 would be the event that Blandford would help put Truman women's swimming on the map. As a junior, she would finish sixth in the nation, which at the time was the highest finish for any Bulldog women's swimmer, to earn all-Ameriscan honors. In addition to the 200, Blandfor finished 19th in the 100 free and 12th in both the 500 free and the 1,650 free. In her senior year, Blandford moved up to fourth in the nation in the 200 free to repeat as an All-American. She also finished 11th in the 100 free and 13th in the 1,650 free as the Bulldogs won the Mideast Conference Championship and finished 15th in the nation. When Blandford graduated from Truman, she left her name in the record book in seven locations. In addition to the 100 and 200 free events, Blandford held the 500 free with a time of 5:06.86 and was a member of four relay team records, the 200 and 400 Medley teams, and the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle relay squads.
