STATEN ISLAND, New York, February 22-23 — Over the course of two days at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex, Nikki Hiltz continued to show middle-distance dominance, using big kicks to win the women’s 1500 and 3000 at the USATF Indoor Championships.
The 3000 featured one of the most anticipated head-to-head showdowns of the meet, with 1500 specialist Hiltz taking on Shelby Houlihan, who recently returned from a highly publicized 4-year doping suspension.
The early pace dawdled, and Houlihan reluctantly found herself in the lead, towing the field through 1000 in 3:07.45 before picking it up to hit 2000 in 6:07.15. She then slowly dropped the pace on each successive lap, to string out the field. Hiltz tried to move to the lead on the final backstretch, but Houlihan held her ground, setting up a wild dash to the tape. Hiltz eventually got to the front and won in 8:48.28 off a 29.22 final 200 (and 59.66 closing 400).
“Fast or slow, either way, it was fun, I just wanted to get outside my comfort zone,” said Hiltz, who had won the last four U.S. 1500 titles (two each indoors and outdoors). “We were definitely picking it up and squeezing it, so the kick felt less drastic. I was just saving my energy and trying to stay calm emotionally as well. That really helped me the last 50.”
Houlihan (8:48.43) held 2nd ahead of Whittni Morgan (8:48.56) and Emily Mackay (8:48.68).
“Honestly, not as much nerves as I thought,” Houlihan said of her first national championship appearance since winning the indoor 1500/3000 double in 2020. “I kinda just felt ready and psyched. I’ve been doing the last couple of races where I was kinda out there with myself and doing time trials the last four years, so it just felt good to race.”
On Sunday, Hiltz again demonstrated a decisive kick. Taking over after halfway of a tactical run (2:16.32), they steadily accelerated, ultimately covering the last lap in 28.23 for a 4:05.76 win.
“It was fun. I thought it was going to be a little bit faster, but nobody wanted to take it,” said Hiltz, who is skipping World Indoors to prepare for Grand Slam Track’s inaugural season, which kicks off in early April. “Pole position is everything indoors and I saw 2 [laps] to go and was like I’m gonna make my move now and defend instead of attack and see how it goes.
Sinclaire Johnson (4:06.05) overhauled Heather MacLean (4:06.69) for 2nd, while Houlihan (4:06.82), who struggled for position during the race, took 4th.
Katie Moon won her fifth national indoor pole vault title. After a second-attempt clearance at 14-9 (4.50) she passed at the next three heights. She then clinched the competition at 15-5 (4.70) on her second try, then improved to 15-9 (4.80) before missing three times at 16-¾ (4.90).
“I felt better than it looked like I jumped. I had more misses than I was expecting with how I felt,” said Moon. “But to jump 4.80 and win another title, I’m super happy with that. I would have loved to keep up that 4.90 bar, but we’ve got a long outdoor season ahead of us.”
Chase Jackson earned her fifth U.S. title (and third in a row) with a third-round toss of 64-5¾ (19.65). All four of her legal throws would have won the competition handily, with Maggie Ewen second at 61-10½ (18.86).
In the long jump, Monae’ Nichols saved her best for last, moving up from 4th to 1st with a 22-1 (6.73) effort on her final attempt, just ahead of Claire Bryant’s 22-¾ (6.72). “It feels great to finally be at the level where I can consistently make teams,” said Nichols, who took silver at last year’s World Indoors, then made the Olympic team for Paris. “To do this on my last jump shows me that I’m a competitor and I can do this.”
Jasmine Moore rebounded from a 3rd-place-finish in the long jump to win a triple jump competition that featured only three starters, reaching a best of 45-7¼ (13.90) in the third round. “After the long jump, of course I knew I had to pick myself back up,” said Moore, who won Olympic bronze medals in both events last summer. “I’m always very grateful that I have another opportunity to make the team.”
Olympic champion Masai Russell won the 60 hurdles in a world-leading 7.74, followed by Grace Stark (7.76) and Christina Clemons (7.81).
Alexis Holmes controlled the 400 from the start and pulled away from Rosey Effiong down the stretch to win in 50.51. Effiong (51.43) held off Quanera Hayes (51.47) for 2nd.
“I just wanted to get to the break first and finish strong,” said Holmes, who is known for her late-race closing speed in outdoor races. “I have to focus more on the front end of my race, but going into outdoors this year that’s my biggest goal.”
Nia Akins passed Valery Tobias off the final turn of the 800 to take the win in 1:59.31, moving to No. 10 on the all-time U.S. list. Tobias (1:59.55) broke 2:00 for the first time in her career and was comfortably ahead of Sage Hurta-Klecker (2:00.13).
Celera Barnes edged Jacious Sears for the 60 title, with both clocking 7.11. Vashti Cunningham won her ninth straight indoor high jump title, clearing 6-4¼ (1.94), beating Charity Hufnagel on the countback. Timara Chapman, last year’s NCAA heptathlon champ, vaulted into the lead of the pentathlon thanks to a 20-9¼ (6.33) long jump and held on to win with 4555 points. And Rachel Richeson took the weight throw at 82-10½ (25.26).
USATF WOMEN’S INDOOR RESULTS
(first 2 make World Indoor team, if qualified) (2/22—3000, 60H, 3000W, PV, LJ, SP, Pent)
60 Meters
1. Celera Barnes (adidas) 7.11; 2. Jacious Sears (Nike) 7.11; 3. Mikiah Brisco (adidas) 7.18; 4. Jada Baylark (unat) 7.24; 5. Semira Killebrew (unat) 7.25; 6. Lauren Jarrett (WiLC) 7.29 PR; 7. Kortnei Johnson (GSTC) 7.41; 8. Zhane Smith (unat) 7.60.
400 Meters
1. Alexis Holmes (Nike) 50.51 (x, 9 A);
2. Rosey Effiong (unat) 51.43; 3. Quanera Hayes (Nike) 51.47; 4. Bailey Lear (unat) 51.55 PR; 5. Karimah Davis (CiqueE) 52.25; 6. Maya Singletary (CiqueE) 52.34 =PR.
800 Meters
1. Nia Akins (HOKA) 1:59.31 PR (10, x A);
2. Valery Tobias (BrkB) 1:59.55 PR; 3. Sage Hurta-Klecker (OAC) 2:00.13 PR; 4. Kaela Edwards (unat) 2:00.36; 5. Sammy Watson (adidas) 2:01.62; 6. McKenna Keegan (Nike) 2:02.32.
1500 Meters
1. Nikki Hiltz (lulu) 4:05.76; 2. Sinclaire Johnson (Nike) 4:06.05 PR; 3. Heather MacLean (NBal) 4:06.69; 4. Shelby Houlihan (unat) 4:06.82; 5. Laurie Barton (AtlTC) 4:08.92 PR; 6. Gracie Morris (Puma) 4:09.26 PR; 7. Dani Jones (NBal) 4:09.37; 8. Katelyn Tuohy (adidas) 4:10.07.
3000 Meters
1. Hiltz 8:48.28; 2. Shelby Houlihan (unat) 8:48.43; 3. Whittni Morgan (adidas) 8:48.56; 4. Emily Mackay (NBalB) 8:48.68; 5. Ella Donaghu (Nike) 8:49.70; 6. Bailey Hertenstein (Nike) 8:50.13; 7. Olivia Markezich (OAC) 8:52.49; 8. Tuohy 8:54.46.
60 Hurdles
1. Masai Russell (Nike) 7.74 PR (WL, AL) (=6, =10 A);
2. Grace Stark (adidas) 7.76; 3. Christina Clemons (unat) 7.81; 4. Alia Armstrong (unat) 7.87 =PR; 5. Amber Hughes (unat) 7.96; 6. Taylor Cox (NJHS) 8.15; 7. Kassidy Hopkins (unat) 8.36; 8. Ashley Wallace (unat) 8.49.
Heats: II–1. Stark 7.75 PR (AL, =WL) (8, x A).
3000W
1. Lauren Harris (unat) 13:23.83 PR; 2. Maria Michta-Coffey (OisWUSA) 13:33.28; 3. Miranda Melville (NYAC) 13:36.67; 4. Katie Burnett (HarrTC) 13:47.89; 5. Ruby Ray (unat) 14:00.76 PR; 6. Celina Lepe-Corvera (NYAC) 14:17.38 PR; 7. Izabelle Trefts (EvergSt) 14:24.70; 8. Stephanie Casey (TSHarr) 14:38.25.
High Jump
1. Vashti Cunningham (NikeRB) 6-4¼ (1.94) (=AL) (missed 6-5½/1.97); 2. Charity Hufnagel (unat) 6-4¼ =PR, iPR) (=AL) (missed 6-5½/1.97);
3. Jenna Rogers (Nb) 6-3¼ (1.91); 4. Sanaa Barnes (unat) 5-11½ (1.82); 5. Zarriea Willis (unat) 5-10½ (1.79); 6. tie, Jelena Rowe (Asics) & Cierra Allphin (unat) 5-10½; 8. Liz Evans (unat) 5-8¾ (1.75).
Pole Vault
1. Katie Moon (Nike) 15-9 (4.80) (missed 16-¾/4.90); 2. Gabriela Leon (Puma) 15-3 (4.65); 3. Emily Grove (unat) 15-3; 4. Chloe Timberg (Rut) 15-1 (4.60); 5. Brynn King (RobW) 14-11 (4.55); 6. Riley Felts (unat) 14-5¼ (4.40); 7. Natalie Lark (Louis) 14-1¼ (4.30); 8. Ashley Callahan (Louis) 14-1¼.
Long Jump
1. Monae’ Nichols (Puma) 22-1 (6.73); 2. Claire Bryant (unat) 22-¾ (6.72); 3. Jasmine Moore (Puma) 21-10¼ (6.66); . Nicole Warwick (unat) 21-8 (6.60) PR; 5. Aislinn McElhaney (unat) 20-10½ (6.36); 6. Zhane Smith (unat) 20-4½ (6.21); 7. Kayla Woods (unat) 20-1½ (6.13); 8. Elena Cooper (unat) 20-½ (6.11).
Triple Jump
1. Moore 45-7¼ (13.90) (AL);
2. Mylana Hearn (unat) 44-7½ (13.60); 3. Makenzy Mizera (unat) 41-3¼ (12.58) (only 3 entrants).
Shot
1. Chase Jackson (Nike) 64-5¾ (19.65); 2. Maggie Ewen (unat) 61-10½ (18.86); 3. Jessica Ramsey (adidas) 60-8¾ (18.51); 4. KeAyla Dove (Hous) 59-8½ (18.20); 5. Adelaide Aquilla (unat) 58-3¼ (17.76); 6. Abby Moore (Rodhe) 58-1 (17.70); 7. Veronica Fraley (unat) 55-3¾ (16.86); 8. Jalani Davis (unat) 54-10¾ (16.73).
Weight
1. Rachel Richeson (unat) 82-10½ (25.26); 2. Erin Reese (Vel) 81-8¾ (24.91); 3. Davis 81-4½ (24.80); 4. Annette Echikunwoke (unat) 76-8¼ (23.37); 5. Janeah Stewart (NYAC) 75-9¼ (23.09);6. Brooke Andersen (Nike) 72-6½ (22.11); 7. Elisia Lancaster (Shore) 70-2¼ (21.39); 8. Cy Green (AMCC) 68-2¼ (20.78).
Pentathlon
1. Timara Chapman (unat) 4555 PR (AL) (8.29, 5-10/1.78, 43-3/13.18, 20-9¼/6.33, 2:18.38);
2. Cheyenne Nesbitt (unat) 4462; 3. Erin Marsh (unat) 4423; 4. Lexie Keller (unat) 4399 PR; 5. Lauren Taubert (unat) 4381 PR; 6. Katie Eidem (unat) 4212 PR; 7. Kiana Davis (unat) 4198 PR; 8. Melanie Winters (unat) 4124 PR.