The Elite Tune-Up has developed a formula for postseason success.
Step 1: assemble a strong cast of mid-distance runners, representing the original events (the mile and 800) that put the meet on the map back in 2010, before NCRunners even joined up to help promote the meet. Check out just a few of the names that have won races at this meet, all of them represented on the state's all-time rankings:
- 2010: Sammy George, Jake Hurysz
- 2011: Bakri Abushouk, Sarah Rapp
- 2012: Megan Sullivan, Craig Engels
- 2013: Blake Dodge, John Crossley, Malia Ellington
- 2014: Blake Dodge, Malia Ellington, Patrick Sheehan
Step 2: add in one national-caliber sprint star, someone who has the potential to light up the national rankings whenever her or she goes on the track. Last year, of course, it was Trentavis Friday posting US #1 marks of 10.17 in the 100 and 20.33 in the 200, a preview of his tremendous performances in the weeks to come. The year before, Friday gave us a hint of that potential when he ran 46.97 for the 400, then followed it up with a 20.79 200.
Step 3: surround those core athletes with strong performers in all the events. Whether it's Breanna Warren throwing the discus 154 feet, Isaiah Moore or Mollie Williams dominating over the hurdles, Layla White rolling in the 400, or even Ravenscroft cranking out a solo 11:59 in the girls' DMR, there have always been standout performances from this meet.
Over the years the depth of the entries has increased, and this year the added interest from the Border Clash races promises that will continue in the future. Eventually, director Robert Youtz envisions the meet bringing together the best athletes from at least four states, forming into something like a regional championship meet. That's all ahead of us, though - right now, it's time to celebrate another round of national-caliber performances.
More Elite Tune-Up Coverage
Border Clash Recap
What would the All-Time North Carolina rankings in the boys 800 look like without the Elite Tune-Up? Four of the top six runners in state history have marked their place on the list at this meet, all within the last four years (although John Crossley went on to improve his time two weeks later at New Balance Nationals). This time around, it was a titanic duel between Elijah Inuwa (Central Academy of Technology), who pushed the pace early and led most of the race, and Philip Hall (South View), who slid past Inuwa in the last 40 meters to take the narrow win. Hall ran 1:50.46 US #4 NC #5 All-Time, with Inuwa just a step behind in 1:50.56 US #5 NC #6 All-Time.
Not to be outdone, the girls' 800 also featured an entertaining duel up front, this time between Laurie Barton (Daniel SC) and Malia Ellington (Community School of Davidson). Barton led the first lap, then Ellington took the lead with 500 to go, bringing the field through in a screaming-fast 61 seconds. Barton rallied on the final stretch to win in 2:08.93, a new South Carolina all-time record. Ellington finished in 2:09.81 NC #3 All-Time, making this the 3rd straight year that a North Carolina girl has broken 2:10 in this race. Eliza Dekker (Durham Academy) finished 3rd in a season-best 2:14.98, while Tatiana Mills (Berry Academy) threw her hat into the ring as a 2016 contender with a big PR of 2:15.42.
A heavy downpour broke out just as the girls' mile was getting started, but the race turned out pretty fast despite that interference. Anna Vess (A.C. Reynolds) trailed Elly Henes (Green Hope) for most of the race, then pushed past in the last 100 meters to win in 4:59.96 NC #6. Henes finished in 5:01.13, as the two leaders were the only runners to remain close to their goals despite the near flood that fell on the track during their race. Although the rain lessened somewhat for the boys' Border Clash mile, it was still falling and the air was extremely humid. Tanis Baldwin (East Henderson) had a solo effort, running 4:18.42 to win by nearly 10 seconds. Zachary Marchinko (Jesse Carson) emerged from the chase pack to take second.
As far as the state-by-state scoring goes, the late withdrawal of three key South Carolina runners turned the day into a runaway for Team NCRunners. With sweeps of the top 3 places in three of the four events, North Carolina outscored its neighbor to the south by a margin of 31-5, with Barton's 800 the lone bright spot for the Palmetto State.
Other Highlights
Anna Cockrell (Providence Day) did her best to steal the show from the mid-distance runners, just as Trentavis Friday did the last two years. The Providence Day hurdler is going to run out of accomplishments to earn by the time next spring rolls around! She already broke the NC all-time record in the 300 Hurdles a few weeks ago, and in her first race Saturday she added a 13.21 US #3 NC All-Time Record in the 100 Hurdles. She followed that up with a 1:00.26 US #2 in the 400 Hurdles, then closed a spectacular day with a 23.71 200, good for NC #2.
The boys' high hurdles didn't produce a nationally-ranked time or a new spot on the North Carolina all-time list, but it did produce one of the most exciting finishes of the day. Brent Carroll (Berry Academy) ran 14.16 NC #4 while holding off a big PR from Corey Thompson (East Gaston), who clocked 14.25 NC #7. Thompson came back to win the 400 Hurdles in 54.11 NC #2, pushing past Andrew Spear (West Carteret, 54.30 NC #3) around hurdle number 6 and then holding off Spear's final charge.
Looking for a fast race to prepare for the Dream 100 next weekend, Sydnei Murphy (Apex) almost got more than she bargained for. Murphy claimed a narrow win the 100 with a wind-legal PR of 11.68 NC #1 US #25 NC #8 All-Time (wind-legal), holding off a huge PR effort of 11.69 NC #2 NC #9 All-Time (wind-legal) from Gabriele Cunningham (Mallard Creek).
After missing the spring to fully heal from a recurring injury, Sara Platek (Ragsdale) showed very few ill effects from the layoff. She took over the girls' 3200 lead from Kathleen Mansure (Watauga) with 2 laps to go and closed out in 10:32.84 NC #3 NC #11 All-Time.
Alina McDonald (Carolina Homeschool) broke through the 13-foot barrier after a long string of 12' 6" and 12' 10" performances that had left her quite frustrated. Expect her to quickly improve even more now that she has that accomplishment checked off, as she has her sights set on the all-time South Carolina state record of 13' 3".