Elite Men's Races
Last year, Drew Hunter (Loudoun Valley VA) ran sub-9 for the 3200 during the David Oliver Classic's Friday session, then double back Saturday to take the Invitational Mile with a furious final lap. This year he travels to NC a week earlier to run in the Elite 3000, and who knows what the Foot Locker National Champ can accomplish? Talk about diving into the deep end of the pool: this will be his 2016 indoor debut, and it comes against a field of 4 pros and 8 collegians, with a total of 6 runners entered that have PR's under 8 minutes. The co-favorites are Lawi Lalong (best time of 7:36.44) and 2-time Great Edinburgh XC champion Garrett Heath (below, 7:37.40 PR). Former Harnett Central runner Luis Vargas, who ran collegiately for Elon before moving to NC State as a graduate student, is in the race, along with current UNC runner Mark Derrick.
The biggest event of the whole meet, though, could also be one of the quickest: the Elite 60 Hurdles is absolutely LOADED. The current world best is 7.61, and the US leader is Jarret Eaton at 7.69, a mark that was beaten by 3 runners in this event last year. With defending champion Aleec Harris, 2013 World Champion David Oliver, and 2011 World Champion/2012 Olympic Silver Medalist Jason Richardson all in the race, there's a very real chance that we will witness the best time in the world so far this year. And just for good measure, why not throw in the best overall athlete in the world? 2012 Olympic Champion and the World Record holder in the Decathlon, Ashton Eaton, will take on the hurdle specialists on Saturday afternoon. He can hang, too, with a personal best of 7.51 in this event! Expect all four athletes to cross the line in a virtual dead heat, just like last year:
(NOTE: Leo Manzano withdrew from the meet this week.) The event that started all of this, the Camel City Mile, continues to exemplify the pursuit of the 4-minute standard. Last year's race produced four sub-4's, including defending champion Cory Leslie (below). Mexico's Pablo Solares, who has been to two world championship meets, has a 3:54 PR and should be right in the thick of this race. You can also factor in sub-4 veterans and relative local Brandon Hudgins, who is from South Carolina. Former Burlington Williams standout Graham Crawford, now at NC State, adds a little more North Carolina flavor to the race, and current Wake Forest runner Simon Holden is also entered.
The Men's 800 was set to be the return of Nick Symmonds to the meet he helped to elevate into national prominence (he won the 800 here in 2014, the first year that the Camel City meet featured multiple Elite race distances). Unfortunately, the two-time Olympian and silver medalist at the 2013 World Championships, withdrew Wednesday due to a minor injury. In his absence, there could be a three-way battle for the win between Brandon Johnson, who has been under 1:44 in his career, and sub-1:45 runners Cas Loxsom and Ryan Martin.