Middle Distance Standouts Add to Already-Strong Squad
ATLANTA – November 21, 2022 – After a standout season in 2022, Atlanta Track Club Elite looks to have an even stronger 2023 with the addition of two runners to its women’s middle distance group. British half miler Hannah Segrave and Auburn University 800m school record holder Presley Weems have both relocated to Atlanta and will debut in the Winged A uniform in the upcoming indoor track season.
“I’m really excited about having a specific and very successful middle distance group to train with,” said Segrave who spent the last nine years living and training in Eastern Tennessee. “In 2023, I would like to break 2:00 in the 800, lower my 1500m personal best and make the Great Britain team.”
Segrave, a 2017 graduate of Milligan University, comes to Atlanta with personal bests of 2:00.18 and 4:12.24 in the 800m and 1500m respectively. At Milligan, she won four NAIA National Championship titles and was an eight-time All-American. Segrave said she is excited to live in a big city and looks forward to exploring Atlanta’s restaurants and coffee shops. In addition to running professionally, Segrave, who graduated with a degree in computer information systems, will work on Information Technology for the Club.
Weems comes to Atlanta after graduating from Auburn in May of this year. Her personal best and school record 800m time of 2:03.50 came during a sixth place finish at the 2022 SEC Outdoor
“In choosing to continue my running career, I knew I wanted to be surrounded by people who would allow me to continue to push my limits and help me to better myself both on and off the track,” said Weems, a two-time All-American. “I want to make my first season on the professional level one that brings growth and development that will allow me to continue my pursuit of being able to race and compete with the best.”
Weems, who hails from Hoover, Alabama, said she is also looking forward to moving to a bigger city, but adds that she’s excited that she will be staying in the south.
“Hannah and Presley bring fresh perspectives and new talents to our team,” said Amy Begley, Atlanta Track Club Elite’s coach. “Hannah is an accomplished veteran who has a lot of experience competing on the global stage while Presley has incredible potential to be in the mix for national teams.”
Segrave and Weems join an all-star team of women that includes Allie Wilson and Olivia Baker. Wilson and Baker were fourth and fifth respectively in the 800m at this year’s USATF Outdoor Championships with Wilson going on to win a silver medal at the NACAC (North American, Central American and Caribbean) Championships. Earlier in the season, Baker represented Team USA in the 800m at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade. Atlanta Track Club Elite also includes U.S. national qualifier Sadi Henderson and U.K. national qualifier Gemma Finch.
In addition to the new athletes, Atlanta Track Club Elite announced it is now working with Kelsey Pontius, a registered dietitian and nutritionist. Pontius, a 2020 and 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon qualifier, will serve as the team’s sports nutrition consultant. As a board certified specialist in sports dietetics, Pontius will do a comprehensive review of each athlete’s habits and routines from their typical meal planning and creation to workout and race day nutrition. She will also be assisting in monitoring supplements and analyzing micronutrients through bloodwork. Pontius is the founder and owner of Meteor Nutrition in Jacksonville, Florida.
About Atlanta Track Club
Atlanta Track Club is a nonprofit committed to creating an active and healthy Atlanta. Through running and walking, Atlanta Track Club motivates, inspires and engages the community to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
With more than 30,000 members, Atlanta Track Club is the second largest running organization in the United States. In addition to the AJC Peachtree Road Race (peachtreeroadrace.org) – the largest 10K running event in the world, the Publix Atlanta Marathon, PNC Atlanta 10 Miler and Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, Atlanta Track Club directs more than 30 events per year. Through the support of its members and volunteers, Atlanta Track Club also maintains a number of community initiatives including organizing and promoting the Kilometer Kids youth running program to metro Atlanta youth, honoring high school cross country and track and field athletes through Atlanta Track Club’s All-Metro Banquets and supporting the Grady Bicycle EMT program. For more information on Atlanta Track Club, visit atlantatrackclub.org.
