2020 Camel City Elite Pro Fields Announced

Olympian and World Champ Jenny Simpson joins returning athletes Paul Chelimo, Edward Cheserek

Craig Engels, Clayton Murphy and Raevyn Rogers

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – January 8, 2020 – In exactly one month, some of the world’s top middle distance athletes will convene at JDL Fast Track to compete at Camel City Elite.  With available prize money and bonuses totaling nearly $100,000, Camel City Elite is one of the best track meets in the United States each winter.

According to facility director and elite athlete coordinator Craig Longhurst, this year was another challenge to recruit athletes for an event in February.  “Last year, we saw athletes not wanting to get sharp so early because the IAAF World Championships weren’t until October.  This year, we had athletes who were still on vacation in November and unwilling to commit to an indoor season that was only a month or so away.  Add to that the fact that it is an Olympic year, and a lot of athletes are so focused on that once every four year excitement, that I think indoor season has been put on the back burner this year for some athletes.”

Despite those challenges, Camel City Elite has assembled another star-studded field.  The newcomer to this year’s field is Olympian and World Champion Jenny Simpson of New Balance.  Simpson is one of the most decorated female middle distance runners in U.S. history.  This will be her first indoor competition outside of the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix meet in Boston since 2012.  “We can’t express how excited we are to have Jenny coming to Camel City Elite this year.  We have tried to get her each of the last few years, but her schedule never allowed it.  When she said ‘yes’ this year, we literally jumped for joy.”

In addition to Simpson, Camel City Elite will see the return of some of the fastest and most popular athletes to have competed at JDL Fast Track:

·        Olympic silver medalist at 5000m Paul Chelimo will compete in the men’s 3000m event, which he won in both 2017 and 2018;

·        17-time NCAA champion and two-time defending champ Edward Cheserek will look to repeat in the mile, but is also considering the 3000/mile double;

·        2019 US champion and hometown favorite Craig Engels will be running the men’s 800m;

·        Olympic bronze medalist at 800m and flat track “world record” holder Clayton Murphy will be moving up to the mile at this year’s Camel City Elite;

·        2019 World Championship silver medalist Raevyn Rogers is returning to run the women’s 800m.

“With each of these athletes, they are clearly fan favorites and stars in the sport.  We must be doing something right to get this level of athletes to return to Camel City Elite each year,” said Longhurst.  “They add so much to the meet, not just on the track, but also in their interactions with the fans and sponsors of the meet.”

In addition to these athletes, Camel City Elite has a long list of other athletes competing.  Other female athletes scheduled to compete include:  Grace Barnett (mile), Lindsey Butterworth (800m), Amy Cashin (3000m pacer), Amanda Eccleston (3000m), Stephanie Garcia (mile), Sammy George (3000m), Jessica Harris (mile), Michelle Howell (mile pacer), Maddie Kopp (800m), Sharon Lokedi (3000m), Rachel Pocratsky (mile), Julia Rizk (800m pacer) and Sammy Watson (800m).  High school sensation and American 600m record holder Athing Mu is also set to return in the women’s 800m.

On the men’s side, additional athletes scheduled to compete include: Alex Amankwah (800m), Vincent Ciattei (mile), Donnie Cowart (3000m pacer), Vincent Crisp (800m), Willy Fink (mile), Edose Ibadin (1000m), CJ Jones (800m pacer), John Lewis (mile pacer), Craig Nowak (mile), Drew Piazza (800m), Quamel Prince (1000m), James Quattlebaum (3000m) and Joseph White (800m).

Athletes will be competing for prize money of $6000 for first place, $4000 for second place, $2000 for third place and $1000 for fourth place. Additional prize money is available through 8^th place.  There are also individual time bonuses of $1000 to the winner if they break a set time in each event, as well as flat track “world record” bonuses.

In addition to the pros, Camel City Elite is currently set to include college athletes from Campbell, Duke, Eastern Kentucky, Florida, Furman, Kentucky, Lee (Tenn.), NC State, Norfolk State, SCAD Atlanta, Temple, UNC Pembroke, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia and Wofford.

This year, Camel City Elite will feature its first high school only field.  The Engels 8 will feature some of the best 800m runners in NC and the east coast and will be mentored by Craig Engels, as the athletes will have an opportunity for a private dinner with Engels the night before the race.  The race will feature the following athletes:  Mark Alkins (Durham Academy), Will Atkins (West Forsyth), Jonah Hoey (Bishop Shanahan, PA), Zach Hughes (First Flight), Karthik Kochuparambil (Denmark, GA), Jake Toomey (Weddington), Thomas Vo (Green Hope) and Braxton Ware (West Forsyth, pacer).

Admission for the event is $10 for adults, $5 for students and kids 12 and under are FREE.

Camel City Elite will be streamed live online at www.jdlfasttrack.com as part of the RunnerSpace +Plus subscription package which starts at $12 a month.

ABOUT JDL FAST TRACK (www.jdlfasttrack.com)

JDL Fast Track is a privately owned facility that is quickly becoming one of the premier indoor track and field venues in the southeast. Opened in 2012, the facility houses a 200-meter oval track with a Mondotrack FTX surface—the same surface used at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. With a seating capacity of 1,700, ten HD televisions showing real-time field event results, and five high definition projector screens for video playback, JDL Fast Track offers fans a unique track and field experience.

To date, JDL Fast Track has hosted four national championships:  2014 NCAA Division II, 2015 NCAA Division III, 2015 and 2019 USATF Masters Indoor and 2016 NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.  JDL Fast Track is currently slated to host the 2020 NCAA Division III National Championships.