CHARLOTTE, NC/MARCH 28, 2026 - The starting gun echoed across Johnson C. Smith University’s Irwin Belk Complex as nearly 300 middle and high school athletes lined up to compete in the inaugural Anna Cockrell High School Invitational. For many, it was another track meet. For JCSU Head Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Coach Carol Lawrence, it was the realization of a vision years in the making.
Held on March 28, 2026, the invitational brought together 24 coaches and hundreds of student-athletes from across the region for a day that celebrated competition, mentorship and community. Named in honor of Anna Cockrell, Olympic silver medalist in the 400 meter hurdles, the event highlighted not only athletic excellence, but also the power of perseverance. Anna Cockrell became a positive role models in the flesh. The young athletes were able to meet, take photos, and interact with the world-class athlete.
The meet carried special significance for Johnson C. Smith University. Anna Cockrell is the daughter of respected Charlotte community leaders Kieth and Serena Cockrell. Kieth Cockrell serves as President of Bank of America Charlotte and is a member of the JCSU Board of Trustees. Their longstanding commitment to education, leadership and community service made the University a fitting home for an event designed to inspire young people.
For Lawrence, honoring her former athlete was an easy decision.
“Our goal was to show these students that if they work hard, they can achieve great things,” Lawrence said. “Anna has accomplished so much, and it was important for these young athletes to see someone who once stood where they are now.”
Long before she stood on an Olympic podium, Cockrell was dominating high school competition at Providence Day School under Lawrence’s guidance. She captured 16 North Carolina state championships, won the World U20 title in the hurdles, advanced to the second round of the U.S. Olympic Trials while still in high school and finished her prep career ranked among the nation’s elite.
Lawrence said those accomplishments were built on an extraordinary commitment to improvement rather than talent alone.
“She was incredibly talented, but what really separated her was her work ethic,” Lawrence recalled. “If we watched video and identified something to improve, she would ask, ‘Coach, can we come back tomorrow?’ We would be out there on Saturdays and Sundays working together. Talent gets you started, but work ethic takes you to another level.”
Just as important, Lawrence said, was the support system surrounding the future Olympian.
“They supported Anna every step of the way, but they allowed us to coach,” she said of Kieth and Serena Cockrell. “That made a tremendous difference.”
Although the invitational shared the weekend with several other meets across the region, participation exceeded expectations. Nearly 300 athletes attended, providing an encouraging start for what organizers hope will become one of the Southeast’s premier high school track meets.
The competition itself was only part of the day’s impact.
From the first event until the final race, Cockrell remained at the track alongside her parents and President Valerie Kinloch. Cockrell posed for photos, signed autographs and patiently answered questions from young athletes who wanted advice on everything from training routines to managing pressure on the biggest stages.
“So many young athletes wanted to know about training, confidence and mental preparation,” Lawrence said. “Anna stayed from the beginning to the very end, talking with everyone who wanted to meet her. She and her family made it a true community event.”
For Lawrence, those conversations may have been even more valuable than the races themselves. She believes seeing an Olympian who is approachable, humble and willing to invest in others can leave a lasting impression on aspiring athletes.
That same philosophy shapes Lawrence’s approach to coaching at Johnson C. Smith University. While she has built one of the CIAA’s most respected track and field programs, she believes championships are only one measure of success.
“It’s not all about track and field,” she said. “I encourage our student-athletes to pursue internships, serve the community and prepare for life beyond sports. We want to develop great people, not just great athletes.”
Lawrence’s ability to recognize untapped potential has become one of the hallmarks of the Golden Bulls program. Lawrence described athletes who arrived on campus with little experience in new events but flourished after embracing new challenges, including conference champions and medalists who discovered abilities they never realized they possessed.
That willingness to grow is exactly what she hopes the invitational encourages in the next generation.
With support from volunteers from Bank of America, the U.S. Army Reserve and members of the local track and field community, the first Anna Cockrell High School Invitational established a strong foundation for the future.
“This was just the beginning,” Lawrence said. “Everyone wants to come back next year, and we’re excited to make it even better.”
As the final races concluded and athletes made their way home, they left with more than medals and personal records. They departed with encouragement from one of America’s top hurdlers, wisdom from one of the nation’s most respected coaches and a reminder that greatness begins with hard work, humility and the courage to dream.
