Both national caliber distance runners were coming off disappointment at the Millrose Games this past weekend with Kate Murphy having to pull out of the women's pro mile due to an injury and training setback this past month, while Rachel McArthur as a pre-race favorite in the high school mile went down in a fall with 3 laps to go. Their storied rivalry in Virginia goes back several years of exciting, competitive, and thrilling races between the future Oregon Duck (Murphy) and Villanova Wildcat (McArthur). At the VHSL 6A North Regional, a strategic race led to a rare defeat of Murphy by McArthur at the 1600/mile distance.