DVIDS – News – TSC 1st officer sprints to All-American status, inspired by his son’s success

FORT KNOX, Ky. – A warrant officer with 1st Theater Sustainment Command sprinted to All-American status while competing at the top of his age bracket at the United States of America Track and Field Indoor Masters Championships held in Louisville, Ky. , March 11 – 12, 2023.

Warrant Officer Michael Blunt, Air Mobility Officer, Transportation Operations Branch, 1st TSC, won a silver medal for his second place finish in the 7.13 second sprint in the 60 meters. It was his best time in the event, where he now ranks third in the United States.

He finished the indoor season also placing fourth for running the 200-meter sprint, clocking 23.44 seconds – qualifying him as an All-American in both events.

Not always a runner, Blunt competed in bodybuilding competitions where he placed first in the masters division at the Kentucky Derby Classic in 2015. He also won first overall and first in the masters division at the Flex Lewis Classic held in Nashville in 2016.

Blunt briefly ran track in high school, but it was his son, Malik, who inspired him to sprint again.

“I stopped running on the track in high school, because I wasn’t strong enough; so I wanted to train my son to be stronger,” he said. “It was then that I decided to resume competition in athletics.

“Now my two children are running on the track; my daughter Morgan is also competing,” he shared.

“My son, Malik Blunt, graduated from Fort Knox High School in May 2022. He is now a freshman at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida on a scholarship,” Blunt said.

Malik set many records in athletics while attending Fort Knox schools. He held the 2022 Fort Knox High School records in the 60 meters at 7.07 seconds and the 200 meters at 22.73 seconds during the indoor season.

During the outdoor season, he held the 2022 school record for the 100-meter sprint at 10.52 seconds and 49.23 seconds in the 400-meter sprint.

“He was the 2022 Kentucky Class 1A State Champion in the 100, 200 and 400 meter dashes; the 2021 Kentucky Class 1A State Champion in the 100, 200 and 4X100 meter dashes; the 2018 Kentucky Middle School champion in the 100 and 200 meters; and in 2016 he was Kentucky’s elementary champion in the 100 and 400 meters,” added Blunt.

While the warrant officer trained his champion son, he also got faster. “Since I started competing in 2019 I have gotten better and better; I just got to where my times are dropping so fast, I was able to compete against some nationally ranked guys,” the warrant officer explained.

Blunt only recently entered active duty in April 2021 to become a warrant officer. He served in the Louisiana National Guard from 1995 to 2001 and in the Army Reserve as an active duty Guard Reservist from 2006 to 2021. “I was deployed to Naval Base Kuwait in 2004 and at Camp Arifjan in 2013-14,” he shared.

Blunt said running gave him more than physical benefits.

“It’s my hobby, and I use it as therapy,” Blunt explained. “Running helps calm me down and ease my mind.

“It also gives me mental strength. Not only am I getting stronger physically, but I’m also getting stronger mentally,” he said.

Blunt shared that maintaining the right diet is key to winning. “If you’re going to compete, you have to do it the right way.

“I don’t show up to a track meet just to get a t-shirt,” he said. “I’m here to win!”

Blunt is focused on becoming a national champion. He acknowledged that it would take sacrifices, and following a strict diet is one of them.

He knows what to eat since his time in bodybuilding, and follows a flexible diet, which allows him to eat whatever he wants up to his decided 2000 calories a day. “I count calories,” Blunt said. “My diet is 98%, but I give myself time to relax and eat whatever I want.”

He sees the result of his diet on the track. “These results come from having the right diet, because if you don’t, your body won’t recover as quickly,” he said. “You’re not going to stay as strong either, or you’re opening yourself up to possible injury,” he added.

“Just do it,” Blunt said. That’s his advice to anyone who wants to compete in athletics – or any sporting or fitness challenge.

“Stop sitting around, wishing you could,” Blunt urged. “Stop guessing yourself and try it.”

“I’d rather say I failed than I didn’t try at all, because I’ve been in those shoes before. You never know who may be in the stands watching. Maybe I can inspire someone else to get back on a sports or fitness regimen.

“I love putting on my uniform.” Blunt said. “Track and field running is my hobby which helps keep me grounded and makes me a stronger soldier.”

Blunt will continue to train and compete in the USATF outdoor season which runs from April through August 2023, with his goals set at the top. “My goal is to become a national champion,” Blunt said.