Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton to Compete at Camel City Elite

“World’s Greatest Athlete” Scheduled to Run 60m Hurdles

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – November 17, 2015 – JDL Fast Track today announced that Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton will both be competing in the 60m Hurdles race at Camel City Elite on Saturday, January 30, 2016.  Both may also compete in another event on Friday during the college section of the meet.

Brianne Theisen-Eaton is the reigning World Championships Silver Medalist in the women’s heptathlon at this summer’s meet in Beijing.  Additionally, she was second at the 2013 edition of the meet as well as the 2014 World Indoor Championships.  Theisen-Eaton is a graduate of the University of Oregon and competes for Nike Oregon Track Club Elite and represents Canada in international competitions.  Theisen-Eaton will be running the Champion Women’s 60m Hurdles.

Ashton Eaton is the two-time reigning World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, as well as the current world record holder in the decathlon.  Eaton is also a graduate of the University of Oregon and competes for Nike Oregon Track Club Elite while representing the United States in international competition.  The best decathlete in the world typically gets the tagline of “World’s Greatest Athlete,” a designation that Eaton can claim for the last few years.  Eaton will be running the Visit Winston-Salem Men’s 60m Hurdles.

Craig Longhurst, facility director of JDL Fast Track and elite athlete coordinator for Camel City Elite, said this is a unique opportunity to have these athletes compete in Winston-Salem.  “These are literally two of the best athletes in the world, so to get them to come run at JDL Fast Track is huge for us.  They are both set to compete in the 60m Hurdles, but as athletes who are used to competing in up to 5 different events in a single day, they may decide to do some other events on Friday or Saturday.  Even though the hurdles aren’t their specialty, per se, they are both dangerous and are coming to win!”

On the sponsorship front, JDL Fast Track has identified which sponsors will be sponsoring which races.  Champion will be the title sponsor for the Men’s Mile and the Women’s 60m Hurdles.  Visit Winston-Salem is the title sponsor for the Men’s 60m Hurdles.  Mellow Mushroom will again sponsor the Women’s Mellow Mile.  Salem Sports will be the title sponsor for the Men’s 3,000m race and Total Sports US will sponsor the Men’s 800m.

Additionally, the following sponsors have signed up for the Bronze level sponsorship package since the last press release was issued on November 3:  Twin City Track Club, Sammy Phillips Electric, Panera Brand and Winston-Salem Magazine.

“This year’s event is really starting to take shape.  We are talking to a few more sponsors and are awaiting some commitments from a few more athletes.  Overall, we are extremely pleased with how the meet appears to be progressing this season.  We are still working on some other details that will further enhance this year’s event,” said Longhurst.

Camel City Elite will be held at JDL Fast Track (2505 Empire Drive) on Saturday, January 30 at 2 pm.  Tickets will be on sale at the door at a cost of $10 for adults and $8 for students 12 and older.  Kids under 12 are free.  The event will also be streamed live online at www.jdlfasttrack.com as part of the RunnerSpace +Plus subscription package which starts at $12 a month.

There are also crowd funding options for spectators who wish to get exclusive infield passes to the event or to attend the post-race party and have dinner with the elite athletes in attendance.  More information on the crowd fund or corporate sponsorships can be found at www.jdlfasttrack.com, or by contacting Craig Longhurst directly via email at [email protected].

ABOUT JDL FAST TRACK (www.jdlfastrack.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 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 three national championships:  2014 NCAA Division II, 2015 NCAA Division III and 2015 USATF Masters Indoor.  In March, JDL Fast Track will serve as the host for the NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.