Atlanta will be in the national spotlight Friday evening thanks to the Edwin Moses, the Morehouse College alum who broke world records and won two gold medals in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics.
Morehouse College will host the Edwin Moses Legends Meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. — attracting some of the top track-and-field athletes in the world.
“This is the first full professional track meet hosted at an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) campus,” Moses said during an interview on Monday during the 2024 Atlanta Jazz Festival. “This was part of my long-term vision.”
Athletes coming to Morehouse will include:
- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is the 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion in the 400-meter hurdles, where she set the Olympic record and also won a second gold medal in the 4×400-meter relay. In 2022, she brought home a World Championship with a world record time of 50.68 seconds, becoming the first woman to break both the 52-second and 51-second barriers in the 400-meter hurdles. McLaughlin-Levrone will be competing in the 400-meter hurdles Friday after setting a new personal best of 22.07 seconds in the 200 meters less than two weeks ago at the L.A. Grand Prix. It is possible she could set a world record during the Edwin Moses Legends Meet.
- Matthew Boling is a multiple NCAA champion from the University of Georgia. Known for his exceptional speed, he is the 2024 World Athletics U20 champion in the 100- and 200-meters, and he was a member of the gold-medal-winning 4×400 meters relay team at the World Relays in Nassau. Matthew will compete in both the men’s 100-meters and 200-meters at the meet.
- Angel Piccirillo is a standout middle-distance runner and multiple-time NCAA Division I All-American in cross country and track. Known for her strong performances in a range of middle-distance events, she will be competing in the women’s 1500-meters.
- Khallifah Rosser is a formidable contender in the 400-meter hurdles, who finished third at the 2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and qualified for the World Championships. He also secured a silver medal at the 2022 NACAC Championships in the 400-meter hurdles. And he was a member of the gold medal-winning 4×400-meter relay team.
The invitation-only track meet will feature dozens of top runners in various meets.
For women, the events will be 100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter, 800-meter, 1500-meter, 100-meter hurdle, high jump, and long jump.
For men, the events will include 100-meter, 400-meter, 800-meter, 1500-meter, 110-meter hurdle, 400-meter hurdle and the long jump.
The promoter of the meet is the PUMA American Track League and Paul Doyle. Moses has signed a one-year license for the use of his name for the 2024 meet, which is happening at a pivotal time as runners seek to qualify for the Summer Olympic Games in Paris this summer.
It has been a journey for Moses, who attended Morehouse from 1973 to 1978. In those days, Morehouse didn’t even have a track. But that didn’t stop the physics major from figuring out how to perfect his stride. He had a 10-year streak of 122 consecutive wins, breaking world records along the way.
In 1986, Morehouse unveiled a track that was named after Moses. But that track fell into disrepair. So, Moses and his fellow alums lobbied the administration and helped raise $4.5 million to refurbish the track into a first-class facility. The restored Edwin Moses track opened in 2022.
“This is a first,” Moses said of the Friday evening event. “If it’s successful, say we have 5,000 to 7,000 people in the stands, then that will give energy for us attracting state championships and holding relays.“
The event is open to the public, and tickets are still available.
Moses said there’s a lot at stake.
For starters, thee restored field could become a profit center for Morehouse, one of the nation’s top HBCUs. Already, the restored field is helping the college recruit strong student-athletes.
Although he’s not the meet organizer, Moses, as the host sponsor, is doing all he can for it to be a success.
During the event, the college will be in full hospitality mode with concession trucks and other amenities. Moses is sure attendees will have a great experience.
“Not only is the meet named after me, but it’s at the Edwin Moses track,” Moses said. “It’s the first one. It’s a culmination for me.”
Absolutely a great meet! I think everyone had a great time. Thank you Edwin!