Fighting off a serious challenge from a young California star, the Providence Day junior moved into the top 10 in US history while earning a chance to race on an even bigger stage.
It's a variation on the old gift-giving question: what do you shoot for when you already own all the state records? In Anna Cockrell's case, you get your name on the all-time national top 10 list. That's what the Providence Day hurdler did in the finals of the 400 Hurdles at USATF Junior Nationals yesterday: not only did she win the race, she also ran 56.67 to become the US #5 All-Time Performer! The time also improved on her previous All-Time NC Record, and it ranks her US #2 behind the otherworldly Sydney McLaughlin. Even more important is the reward Cockrell earned by winning the race: she gets to represent Team USA in the Pam-American Junior Championship, held in Edmonton, Canada in July! Cockrell also finished 3rd in the 100 Hurdles on Friday,
Cockrell wasn't the only North Carolinian performing well in Eugene this weekend, either:
- UNC's Kenny Selmon won the Men's 400 Hurdles in 50.26, also earning his way to Edmonton later in the summer.
- Former Southeast Raleigh hurdler Jacklyn Howell, now competing for Kentucky, finished 2nd in the 100 Hurdles, running 13.25. She gets a berth on Team USA for Pan-Am Juniors, as well!
- Appalachian State's had three athletes participating, and all three did well. Hana Ratcliffe, a graduate of the Durham School of the Arts, finished 5th in the 3000 Steeplechase with a time of 11:01.57. Ryan Hastings (a Porter Ridge grad) finished 6th in the 800, running 1:50.51. Kimani Hoffman, who graduated from Knightdale, ended up in 7th in the Triple Jump after jumping 48' 8.75".
- Colin Minor (South Brunswick/Dartmouth) finished 5th in his best event, the Hammer Throw.
- Caroline Yarbrough (Page) finished 8th in the 3000, running 10:21.27. Greensboro Pacesetters teammate Blair Ramsey (Grimsley) ran 4:32.12 for 9th place in the 1500.