The Top 7 Athletes At The RunningLane Track Championships

May 22, 2024

* Adam Burlison leads a star-studded group of distance runners at the RunningLane Track Championships

Photo Credit: Chance Kirby/Texas MileSplit

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With state champions and state record-holders rearing to go starting on Friday at the RunningLane Track Championships in Huntsville, Alabama, the anticipation is nearing a peak.

In year's past, age group world records, national records and an array of other notable achievements have been set at Milton Frank Stadium.

The fields this time around are sure to keep the streak alive.

Here are seven of the top athletes toeing the line at the 2024 RunningLane Track Championships.

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Nicki Southerland, Delta (IN)

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In one of her final send-offs before joining Notre Dame this fall, the reigning Indiana 1,600m state champion returns to Huntsville for the third straight year.

She's the top seed in the mile, having run 4:43 in 2023, which is a performance that won her a RTC title a year ago.

But with Oluwatosin Awoleye in the mix in the 800m, Southerland will have her hands full.

Both athletes are capable of dropping a fast time -- maybe even below their equal career bests of 2:05.

Adam Burlison, Amarillo (TX)

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The near sub-four miler has another great shot at dipping under the coveted barrier on Saturday.

Burlison ran 4:05 at the New Balance Grand Prix earlier this year, but he hasn't quite gotten back to his 2023 form when he ran 4:03.85 at this very meet. What better way to follow-up that moment, though.

Since then, Burlison has only gotten stronger and more tactically sound. He's also the top returner from the championship meet last May. His biggest competitors? Ethan Edgeworth, Corbin Combs and Tommy Latham.

Oluwatosin Awoleye, South Cobb (GA)

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Fresh off of her second consecutive state title in Georgia, Oluwatosin heads into the RunningLane Track Championships on a 12-race win streak in the 800m.

In fact, she's won 21 of her last 22.

Needless to say, the junior doesn't lose often. She clocked a shiny new PB just last week at the GHSA Class 6A State Championships, running 2:05.55.

It was the No. 5 time in the country this spring. As we already alluded to, her main competition may very well be Nicki Southerland. But another runner to be mindful of? That's Annie Miller of Metrolina Christian Academy. The North Carolina half-miler won an indoor national title in March.

Joe Barrett, Christian Brothers Academy (NJ)

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He's only a junior, but Barrett has been on an absolute terror over the last few months, running 4:10 and 8:43 in the mile and 3,200m.

Those marks are the No. 14 and No. 3 times in the junior class in 2024.

Barrett will have his work cut out for him in the mile. Originally slated for the 3,200m, he switched plans and will look to break 4:10.

Tommy Latham, Marist (GA)

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Over the last month alone, the future North Carolina athlete ran 4:01.66 to win the 1,600m at the GHSA Class 6A State Championships and broke the tape in the 3,200m in 9:15.36.

Last month, he also ran 8:46.88, shattering the Georgia state record. This weekend, Latham is looking to be the next junior to break 4:00 since Southern Boone County's Connor Burns accomplished the feat in 2022.

Latham is one of seven boys entering with a seed time under 4:05. But he did run 4:03 in the mile last week at the Atlanta City Games -- so fatigue could be a factor, too.

Cooper Lutkenhaus, Justin Northwest (TX)

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In just his first season of high school track and field, the freshman phenom from Northwest Texaas never ran slower than 1:55, breaking 1:51 twice and running 1:49.84 to win the UIL Class 5A title.

Better yet, that time was a new national freshman class record, passing Missouri legend Brandon Miller, the multiple-time AAU Junior Olympic Games champion from John Burroughs High School in Missouri.

Lutkenhaus also ran 47.33 over the 400m distance last month, breaking 49 seconds all but once during his 10 races.

Despite being one of the youngest in the field, he's the top seed.

Lily Guinn, Maury (VA)

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Guinn is aiming for a double of her own, as she's registered in both the 1,600m and 3,200m.

A year ago on the same track, Guinn clocked 4:48.08 to finish fourth in the mile and was 10th in the 3,200m, clocking a time of 10:25.94.

However, her personal best in the 3,200m is technically 9:59.3 after running 10:02.8 in the 2-mile at New Balance Nationals Outdoor.