Elite High School Division Returns for Third Year at Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race

For the third consecutive year, the Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race will feature the Elite High School Division, an invite-only competition designed to showcase Georgia's top distance talent on one of the sport's biggest stages. The field brings together 35 of the state's top high school runners, offering a rare opportunity to compete alongside professional athletes and experience the atmosphere of one of the nation's premier road races.

Invitations were extended to members of the 2025 All-Metro Cross Country team and top cross country runners outside of the metro Atlanta area, along with athletes who posted standout performances during the 2026 track season in the 1600 meters and 3200 meters. The result is a deep and competitive lineup that includes returning champions, experienced competitors and emerging athletes making their Peachtree debut.

Leading the boys field is Carson Dobur, a rising senior from Northgate High School and the top seed entering the race. Dobur owns the fastest times in Georgia this season in both the 1600 meters and 3200 meters. He returns after finishing 10th in last year's Elite High School Division in 35:07.

Defending champion Riley Comstock of Harrison High School also returns after claiming last year's title in 32:12. A rising senior, Comstock brings consistency across surfaces, highlighted by a 15:00 cross country 5K personal best, a state title and division record in the 800 meters and a runner-up finish in the 1600 meters at this spring's 6A state championships.

Dash Brackin, a rising junior from Carrollton High School, is another athlete to watch after placing sixth in last year's race in 33:58. He followed that performance with a runner-up finish at the 2025 cross country 6A state championships.

Bo Calpaert of Etowah High School adds depth as a rising senior with experience in both cross country and track. He ran 35:26 in last year's race and enters this year after posting a 14:58 5,000m on the track to go along with a 15:19 cross country personal best.

Several athletes will make their division debuts, including Sanders Hearne of Atlanta Classical Academy. A rising junior, Hearne swept the 1600 meters and 3200 meters at the 1A state championships after winning the cross country state title a few months prior. Gavin Quinn of Fellowship Christian School also enters the field for the first time after winning the A-3A Private state title in the 1600 meters.

On the girls side, Averi Lowen of Bowdon High School headlines the field entering her debut. One of the nation's top distance runners, Lowen owns a personal best of 9:41 in the 3200 meters, a state record and the top time in the nation for 2026. She concluded last season as Georgia's top cross country runner after earning a third consecutive state title and breaking the state championship course record by nearly a minute.

Bailey Brackett returns as the defending champion after winning last year's race in 36:12. The Rabun Gap rising senior ranked third in the state during the 2025 cross country season and remained competitive through the spring with a third place ranking in the 3200 meters.

Liliana Beemer of Evans High School brings both experience and consistency, returning for her third appearance in the Elite High School Division. She finished second in 2025 in 37:24 and placed sixth in 2024, the inaugural year for the field. A rising senior, Beemer ranked fourth in the state in cross country last fall and earned a runner-up finish in the 1600 meters at the 5A state championships this spring.

Summer Muxlow of North Hall High School enters as one of the most versatile athletes in the field. A rising junior, she swept the 800 meters, 1600 meters and 3200 meters at the 3A state championships, adding a cross country title as well. After running 41:20 in the Peachtree last year, her range and development position her as a potential contender on the roads.

Paige Comstock, a rising junior from Harrison High School, also returns after placing fourth last year in 38:10 as a sophomore. She continued her upward trajectory this track season, ranking third in the state in the 1600 meters.

The Elite High School Division will take to the streets as part of the 57th running of the Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race on Saturday, July 4. The race begins at Lenox Square and finishes in Piedmont Park, guiding participants through the heart of Atlanta for one of the city's largest summer traditions.

With limited late registration still available here, 60,000 runners and walkers are expected to participate in this year's event. The 2026 race also coincides with a historic moment as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, adding another layer of significance to an already iconic tradition.

A full list of the 2026 Elite High School Division can be found here.