Modest, unassuming, and even a bit shy--that's how Grace Turner seemed to me when I met her at the United Way Invitational. Oh, and fast, too: after a bit of a slow start, she rocked the course in 18:45, losing only to TC Roberson's Brooke Gordon. People who compete in or follow NCHSAA 2A running already know her well, but if you don't watch that classification or don't pay close attention to the regular season you might not have heard of her. Last fall, Grace posted times of 19:23 and 19:17 on two of the fastest courses in the state, but struggled at the state meet. However, she broke through in a big way at the outdoor track state meet, dropping 10 seconds off her best time with a 5:17 that got her fourth in a race that was far more competitive than the size of the schools would indicate. In so doing, she proved she could run with the girls from Carrboro, and hopefully that confidence will carry over to this fall's championship. She is already 30 seconds ahead of last year's pace, and that bodes well.
Grace Turner Athlete Profile