Abbi Morrell L'27 finished first-overall female runner in Greensboro's annual half marathon race this fall. Weeks later, she qualified for the 2027 Boston Marathon in a Raleigh, North Carolina, full marathon.
First-year Elon Law student Abbi Morrell L’27 trains for marathons and tackles law school the same way: one steady mile and one focused assignment at a time.
This fall, she hit two athletic milestones while balancing legal coursework. On Oct. 18, Morrell won the Greensboro Half Marathon, finishing as the first-overall female runner with a time of 1:27 — a 6:42-per-mile pace over 13.1 miles. The victory marked her first-ever overall win, following two previous runner-up finishes in earlier half-marathons.
Just two weeks later, she achieved another. Competing in the Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon, Morrell ran 3:22 to qualify for the 2027 Boston Marathon, placing first in her age group and sixth overall among female runners.
A former collegiate athlete at McNeese State University and Western Carolina University and professional soccer player from Guelph, Ontario, Morrell discovered distance running during an off-season from soccer and was quickly drawn to the discipline of the sport.
“Running is one of the purest measures of effort and outcome. You get out what you put in,” Morrell said. “In a world full of uncertainties, I love that running gives me complete control over my own success. It’s a constant reminder that progress isn’t always about speed; it’s about moving forward.
Morrell balances competitive training with the demands of law school by embracing what she calls an “all-in mindset,” where athletics, academics and personal life support rather than compete with one another.
Now turning her attention toward Boston, Morrell is chasing a course records while building the foundation for a future career in corporate law.
“When I’m consistent in athletics, I’m more focused in school. Each area fuels the others,” she said.