ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, February 17 — Defending a championship is never easy, especially when it’s amplified by the fact that you are now the hunted instead of the hunter. Take Nikki Hiltz for example. 2023 was a breakout year for the former Razorback, winning both indoor and outdoor 1500 national titles, setting the American Record in the mile and setting a (since broken) road mile WR, but now it’s Hiltz’s turn to wear the target.
Only Hiltz, Emily Mackay and Addy Wiley (who had run the 800 little more than 20 minutes before) possessed the World Indoor standard, but running at altitude would certainly hinder any chance of achieving the 4:06.50 needed for Glasgow, so a predictably moderate 69.9 opening 400 was headed by Gabby Jennings followed by Laurie Barton, Mackay, Hiltz and Anna Camp-Bennett.
The places remained the same as Jennings led 800 in 2:18.4, but with 600 to go Hiltz moved to Jennings’ shoulder and the pace started to quicken. With 300 to go Hiltz and Mackay passed Jennings and at the bell the two pulled away. A 28.68 final circuit sealed victory for Hiltz in 4:08.34, with Mackay just 0.35 behind.
An exuberant Hiltz summed it up to NBC’s Lewis Johnson afterwards saying, “I love championship style racing, I mean there’s no rabbits or pacesetters, it’s all about racing.”
“I thought it was gonna be a lot slower,” Hiltz admitted. “I thought it would be tactical like last year. But from the gun Gabby made it honest, and I was just like, ’Let’s go!’ I think it was good.
”I had a plan to move with 2 laps to go but I went a little earlier because I felt good.… I just tried to accelerate every straightaway and just closed as hard as I could.”
Morale riding high after big PRs at 2 miles and the 1000 in their last two meets, Hiltz said, “Just coming here I was like, ‘I’m gonna win.’ I was very, very confident in myself. They didn’t make it easy, though. It was a tough race.”
While many stars passed on competing in Albuquerque, those who did showed their preparation in this Olympic year was spot on as they march toward the World Indoor Championships in a fortnight.
Aleia Hobbs was another defending champion who had a target on her back, only this time her training mate Mikiah Brisco also had her eyes set on the prize.
Both Brisco (7.13) and Hobbs (7:10) won their heats and they didn’t let up for the final. It took a season best for Hobbs to edge Brisco, 7.02 to 7.06, with Celera Barnes (7.09) and Tamara Clark (7.12) collecting PRs in 3rd and 4th.
When asked what it’s like preparing to race Brisco, Hobbs explained, “That was the plan to go 1 and 2, whatever way, 1–2. But the whole race I’d seen her. I mean, we train together, and it’s the same every time, side by side. She starts good, I finish good, so it’s like we just feed off each other.”
Katie Moon and Keturah Orji defended their titles as well.
Vault star Moon had a clean card when she cleared 15-9 (4.80), with 4-time champion Sandi Morris taking 2nd at 15-7 (4.75). The defending Olympic and 2-time world outdoor champion will be looking to improve upon the world Indoor silver she collected in 2022.
Orji claimed her tenth U.S. title (4 indoors/6 out) with her 47-7 (14.50) victory over Jasmine Moore (47-4¼/14.43).
Alexis Holmes got her first national title and set a meet record in the 400 with her 50.34 — which took her to No. 4 all-time U.S. The 24-year-old Kentucky alum hit 200 in front 23.70–23.93 over Talitha Diggs and expanded her margin over Diggs (51.23) on lap 2.
The 800 provided another outstanding finish as Nia Akins was looking to defend her title. Addy Wiley led all qualifiers, with Allie Wilson a tick behind her, as Akins and Olivia Baker won their respective heats on Friday.
In the final, Wilson covered the first 200 in 28.52 ahead of Akins, Wiley and Angel Piccirillo. At 400, Wiley replaced Wilson in 59.36 and Piccirillo moved to 3rd ahead of Baker and Akins.
At the bell, Wiley put on a spurt and Wilson went with her, with Sammy Watson and Akins in tow. Entering the homestretch, Wiley’s lead was shrinking, Wilson was trying her best to forge ahead and Watson and Akins were gaining ground.
Wilson scraped past Wiley 5 meters out for the win, 2:00.63–2:00.70, with Akins edging Watson for 3rd.
“I knew everyone was probably coming in [close behind], so I didn’t want to bank on the fact that I was currently in 2nd — cuz if someone would have got me on the line, then I’m out of that team.”
Erin Reese got the better of ’22 world hammer champ Brooke Andersen in the weight with a PR 84-5 (25.73) that lifted her to No. 2 all-time in the event.
Only DeAnna Price with throws of 85-4½ (26.02) and 84-6¾ (25.77) at this meet last year has whirled the weight farther.
Reese, who placed 5th in ’23, lofted 3 throws beyond her pre-meet PR, 82-10½ (25.26) and said afterwards, “We’ve just been trying to put together a great practice where we keep building up my strength and keep executing technical things. Right now things have been clicking and I’m just so excited for outdoor season.”
USATF WOMEN’S RESULTS, DAY 2
60: 1. Aleia Hobbs (adidas) 7.02; 2. Mikiah Brisco (adidas) 7.06; 3. Celera Barnes (adidas) 7.09 PR; 4. Tamara Clark (adidas) 7.12 PR; 5. Kiara Parker (Asics) 7.15; 6. Samirah Moody (USC) 7.27; 7. Kiara Lagwen Brown (AMC) 7.30; 8. Zhane Smith (unat) 7.37.
Heats: I–1. Brisco 7.13; 2. Clark 7.20; 3. Moody 7.25; 4. Brown 7.28 PR; 5. Divonne Franklin (GardStTC) 7.32; 6. Taylor Anderson (GardStTC) 7.41.
II–1. Hobbs 7.10; 2. Barnes 7.15; 3. Parker 7.18; 4. Smith 7.28; 5. Anavia Battle (adidas) 7.34.
400: 1. Alexis Holmes (Nike) 50.34 PR (4, 4 A) (MR)(23.70/26.64);
2. Talitha Diggs (adidas) 51.23 (23.93/27.30); 3. Quanera Hayes (Nike) 51.76 (24.06/27.70); 4. Bailey Lear (unat) 52.06 (24.15/27.91); 5. Jessica Wright (TBB) 52.37 PR (24.61/27.76); 6. Naasha Robinson (unat) 52.79 (24.35/28.44).
Heats: I–1. Diggs 51.93; 2. Robinson 52.68; 3. Wright 52.74 PR.
II–1. Hayes 52.79; 2. Tiffany Hughey (NWMo) 53.27 PR; 3. Taylor Manson (unat) 53.37; 4. Josie Donelson (OrHS) 53.44.
III–1. Holmes 51.31; 2. Lear 52.13; 3. Maya Singletary (unat) 52.82; 4. Bianca Stubler (TBB) 53.56 PR.
800: 1. Allie Wilson 2:00.63 (28.52, 31.12 [59.64], 30.63 [1:30.27], 30.36); 2. Addy Wiley 2:00.70 PR (28.65, 30.71 [59.36], 30.75 [1:30.11], 30.59); 3. Nia Akins (BrkB) 2:00.90 (28.60, 31.37 [59.97], 30.87 [1:30.84], 30.06); 4. Sammy Watson 2:00.94 PR; 5. Olivia Baker (AtlTC) 2:02.21; 6. Angel Piccirillo (PumaEl) 2:02.53.
Heats: I–1. Baker 2:03.10; 2. Emily Richards (AtalNYC) 2:03.15; 3. MaLeigha Menegatti (unat) 2:06.25; 4. Stephanie Brokaw (unat) 2:06.86.
II–1. Wiley 2:01.29; 2. Wilson 2:01.64; 3. McKenna Keegan (Nike) 2:04.18; 4. Presley Weems (AtTC) 2:04.56.
III–1. Akins 2:02.53; 2. Watson 2:02.65; 3. Piccirillo 2:02.99; 4. Mallory Lindaman (Tracksm) 2:05.12;… dq—Sadi Henderson (AtTC).
1500: 1. Nikki Hiltz (lulu) 4:08.35 (60.61); 2. Emily Mackay (NBalB) 4:08.70; 3. Anna Camp-Bennett (adidas) 4:10.20 PR; 4. Gabbi Jennings (adidas) 4:13.68; 5. Rachel Smith (HOKA) 4:13.76; 6. Laurie Barton (AtTC) 4:16.84; 7. Elly Henes (adidas) 4:19.68;… dnf—Wiley.
Field Events
PV: 1. Katie Moon (Nike) 15-9 (4.80) (15-1, 15-5, 15-7, 15-9, 16-¾ [xxx]) (4.60, 4.70, 4.75, 4.80, 4.90 [xxx]); 2. Sandi Morris (Puma) 15-7 (4.75) (14-9, 15-1, 15-5 [xpp], 15-7, 15-11 [xxx]) (4.50, 4.60, 4.70 [xpp], 4.75, 4.85 [xxx]);
3. Gabriela Leon (Puma) 15-5 (4.70) PR; 4. Bridget Williams (unat) 15-1 (4.60); 5. tie, Kristen Leland (unat) & Emily Grove (unat) 14-9 (4.50); 7. Brynn King (RobW) 14-9 (4.50); 8. Rachel Baxter (unat) 14-5¼ (4.40); 9. Sydney Walter (unat) 13-11¼ (4.25); 10. Mackenzie Beukes (unat) 13-11¼; 11. Chinne Okoronkwo (unat) 13-11¼;… nh—Marissa Kalsey (unat).
TJ: 1. Keturah Orji (Miz) 47-7 (14.50) (47-1, f, 45-7, 45-9¾, 47-7, p) (14.35, f, 13.89, 13.96, 14.50, p); 2. Jasmine Moore (Puma) 47-4¼ (14.43) (f, f, 45-1¾, 46-2, 47-4¼, 46-½) (f, f, 13.76, 14.07, 14.43, 14.03);
3. Mylana Hearn (unat) 45-3¾ (13.81) PR; 4. Lexi Ellis (CTGDev) 43-1 (13.13); 5. Imani Oliver (Tracksm) 42-10¼ (13.06); 6. Arianna Fisher (unat) 42-9½ (13.04); 7. Cierra Pulliam (unat) 41-11¼ (12.78).
Wt: 1. Erin Reese (Vel) 84-5 (25.73) PR (2, 3 W, A) (83-2, 84-5, 81-11¼, 80-7¾, 83-8, 78-9¾) (25.35, 25.73, 24.97, 24.58, 25.50, 24.02);
2. Brooke Andersen (NikeNYAC) 79-10¾ (24.35); 3. Janeah Stewart (NYAC) 79-8¼ (24.29); 4. Rachel Tanczos (Vel) 76-3¾ (23.26); 5. Elisia Lancaster (Shore) 74-1 (22.58); 6. Chioma Njoku (Md) 66-1½ (20.15).
