Elite Women's Races
For the second straight year, Anna Cockrell (Providence Day) will line up against older, more experienced athletes in the 60 Hurdles. Last year, though, it was the collegiate race she was in (she made the finals and finished 7th); this time around, a separate section has been created for the Elite 60 Hurdles, and Anna is in it! She will square off against a pair of World Champions, both of whom hold current American records. Lolo Jones (below) won 2010 and 2012 World Indoor titles in this event, where she is the fastest American ever, and she went to the 2012 Olympics in th 100 Hurdles. Brianna Rollins is the US record-holder in the 100 Hurdles, which she won at the 2013 world championship. Also in the race are Brianne Theisen-Eaton, the Canadian heptathlon record-holder and a 2012 Olympian, and Kristi Castlin, who competed at the 60 Hurdles at the 2012 indoor worlds. Cockrell's PR of 8.21 is the slowest in the race, which features 3 sub-8 performers.
There will be a high school competitor in two of the Elite Women's distance races, as well, plus a number of former North Carolina preps and collegians. In the meet's signature race, the mile, Virginia's Kate Murphy (Lake Braddock) will try to hang with a strong group of international runners. Defending champion and Duke graduate Shannon Rowbury (below) is back - she kicked off her 2015 season here, and it led to her eventually breaking the American record in the 1500. Five other competitors have been to the world championships at least once: Stephanie Garcia, Lauren Johnson, and Heather Kampf for the US, Fiona Benson for Canada, and Heidi See for Australia. Also in the mile: former Millbrook star Sammy George, who now runs for NC State, and her teammate Megan Moye.
In the 3000 we find another Virginian prep, 2015 Foot Locker Nationals champion Weini Kelati (Heritage). Kelati will face a solid field headlined by Katie Mackey, who has the only sub-9 PR in the race, as well as Alexi Pappas and Jessica Tonn. Former Duke runner Wesley Frazier, who set numerous all-time North Carolina records during her high school career, will be looking to kick off her NC State career with a strong race after she sat out the requisite year due to her transfer. Frazier ran 15:45 last spring in the 5K, then set a cross country PR of 16:28.50 this past fall, so she should be in great shape! Fellow collegians Samantha Jones (Wake Forest) and Erika Kemp (NC State) will also compete.
There are no high school runners in the 800, but it should be an outstanding race up front with three women entered that possess sub-2 minute PR's. World Championships silver medalist and 2012 Olympian Melissa Bishop, who is Canadian, has the fastest time at 1:57.52; close behind are Camel City veterans LaTavia Thomas (3rd last year) and Phoebe Wright (back for her 3rd Elite 800 at this meet after finishing 2nd the last two years). Anima Banks (Duke) and Elizabeth Whelan (UNC) face off in what will surely be the first of many battles this season.
