adidas Raleigh Relays Preview

After a record-setting conclusion to the indoor season, Wesley Frazier returns to the track in her home town.

 

The adidas Raleigh Relays is a college meet, which is interesting enough in and of itself (especially since it attracts one of the largest concentrations of former North Carolina prep stars of any meet on the spring calendar).  However, the meet also features high school 3200's for both boys and girls, and those races have become notorious for producing very fast times.  Maybe it is the evening atmosphere, and maybe it is the cooler temperatures after the sun goes down, but whatever the cause you can expect big performances.  Meet management does a good job attracting top talent from the state, and all together this makes for something worth watching.  In past years, some NC distance runners have also competed unattached in the 5000 meters against college competition.  The races are tonight at NC State, and if you are in the Raleigh area you should consider going to watch.

 

Girls Preview

Triangle-area private-school rivals (and conference foes) Wesley Frazier and Eliza Dekker will square off once again.  Frazier (Ravenscroft) is in her first major race since breaking the indoor national record for 5000 meters, and Dekker (Durham Academy) has been looking strong in her return from a fall-season injury.  They are hardly the only two big-time talents in the race.  Sydney Foreman (Ardrey Kell) and Brooke Gordon (TC Roberson) both have strong PR's in the 3200, and Mary Grace Doggett (Cardinal Gibbons) ran under 11 minutes indoors.  Out-of-state competition will be provided by Laura Miller (JL Mann SC) and Katie Fortner (Cave Spring VA), among others.  Don't be surprised if Kayla Montgomery (Mount Tabor) and Pegah Kamrani (East Chapel Hill) each make a push for a top 5 finish, as both continue to show impressive improvement.  If you're looking for a dark horse candidate, consider Blair Ramsey, the Grimsley freshman who has put up a few big 1600 times.

 

Boys Preview

Broughton has three runners in the race, and William Roberson is a threat to win.  Having posted a PR of 4:22 this spring to go with his 9.25.90 in the 3200 indoors, Roberson is primed for a big race.  He will certainly be pushed by AJ Tucker (Cedar Ridge), who ran 9:30 during the winter and has also run 4:22.  The list of potential sub-9:20 runners is too long to mention them all, but it includes Patrick Sheehan (Lake Norman), Ian Milder (Mount Tabor), Nick Tyrey (Cardinal Gibbons), and Chris Reeder (Chapel Hill).  These North Carolinians will have to fight off some serious out-of-state talent, including Andre Ivankovic (Daniel SC), teammates Kurtis Steck and Jason Menzies (Lafayette VA), and Noah Combs (Blacksburg).  This race often produces a breakout performance, and this year's candidate could be Philip Hall, who has monster times already at 1600 and down but would love to put up a big 3200.