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≡ USATF INDOOR CHAMPS ≡
Men’s 800 m star Josh Hoey provided the highlight of the USA Track & Field Indoor National Championships in Staten Island, New York with a brilliant American Record performance, among world-leading performances in four events over the two days:
● Men/800 m: 1:43.24, Joey Hoey ~ American Record
● Men/60 m hurdles: 7.36 (=), Grant Holloway
● Men/Weight: 25.11 m (82-4 3/4), Daniel Haugh
● Women/60 m hurdles: 7.75 (=), Grace Stark in heats
● Women/60 m hurdles: 7.74, Masai Russell
Hoey, already the world leader and the American record holder at 1:43.90 this season, took the lead in the men’s 800 m at the break and led Paris Olympian Brandon Miller through 400 m and at the bell.
Those two were clear of the field into the final turn and Hoey ran away to the finish in another world lead and American Record in 1:43.24! Miller was a clear second in 1:44.26, then Wes Ferguson (1:44.92) and Isaiah Harris in fourth in 1:45.64.
Hoey’s time is the no. 2 performance of all time indoors; only Wilson Kipketer (KEN) and his 1997 record of 1:42.67 is faster! Miller moves to no. 9 all-time and no. 4 all-time U.S.
The middle distances also provided superb performances from Hobbs Kessler and Nikki Hiltz:
● Kessler, the 3,000 m winner on Saturday and the World Road Mile champ from 2023, took the lead in the men’s 1,500 m on the second lap and led at 800 m in 2:01.34. With two laps to go, Kessler led 2023 national indoor winner Sam Prakel and Aidan Ryan and broke everyone but Prakel with 300 to go. Prakel pressed with 100 m to go, but Kessler was not to be headed and won his double in 3:38.42. Prakel was closest at 3:39.14, then Luke Houser at 3:39.27.
Kessler, second in the 1,500 last year, got the 1.500-3,000 m U.S. indoor double; Prakel was the most recent to do it in 2023.
● After the Hiltz-Shelby Houlihan duel in the women’s 3,000 m on Saturday, would Sunday’s 1,500 m be a re-run? Hiltz had the lead with two laps to go and led into the bell with Paris Olympian Heather Maclean close and 2022 outdoor national champ Sinclaire Johnson chasing. Into the straight, Hiltz was not challenged and won easily in 4:05.76, ahead of Johnson (4:06.05) and Maclean (4:06.69). Houlihan was fourth in 4:06.82.
Hiltz won her second straight U.S. Indoor title, and the first 1500-3000 double since Houlihan did it in 2020.
And there was a lot more, of course:
Co-world leader Ronnie Baker was the obvious favorite in the men’s 60 m, but Penn State frosh Ajani Dwyer got out well and won the first heat in 6.54, with Baker at 6.57. Ray Wells Jr. won heat two in 6.58 and Coby Hilton won heat three in 6.64.
In the final, Baker was behind in mid-race and came hard to win in 6.52, just 0.02 behind his co-world lead. Wells Jr. was the leader in mid-race and Hilton came up at the line for second as both timed 6.58. Baker got his second national title, previously in 2017.
World leader Chris Bailey started in lane 6 in the 400 m, but was part of a traffic jam at the bell. But he moved hard on the backstraight and moved to the front and won by daylight in 45.21 for his first U.S. title. Jacory Patterson was strong around the final turn to get second in 45.60 and Elija Godwin, the early leader, got third in 46.09. Prep star Quincy Wilson came on hard on the final straight to get fifth in 46.13.
Paris Olympian Vernon Turner, second last year, moved up to the top of the podium in the men’s high jump as the only one to clear 2.25 m (7-4 1/2), the same height he cleared in 2024! Elijah Kosiba of Grand Valley State cleared 2.22 m (7-3 1/4) for second.
The men’s long jump was close until Will Williams, the 2023 winner, reached 8.16 m (26-9 1/4) in the fifth round and took his second U.S. indoor title. He’s now no. 8 on the 2025 world indoor list. Cameron Crump came up for second – in the sixth round – at 8.04 m (26-4 1/2), ahead of 2018 U.S. indoor champ Marquis Dendy (8.01 m/26-3 1/2).
Two-time NCAA champ Tripp Piperi left it late in the men’s shot put, moving from fourth to second in the fifth round at 21.28 m (69-7 1/2) and then won the event in the sixth round at 21.50 m (70-6 1/2). It’s his first national title. Roger Steen took the lead in the fourth round at 21.28 m (69-9 3/4) and finished second, ahead of 2022 Worlds bronzer Josh Awotunde (21.05 m/69-0 3/4).
The men’s heptathlon was dominated by Kyle Garland, the 2023 NCAA Indoor champ, who won the long jump, shot put and high jump, and finished with 6,139 points for his first U.S. Indoor title (in his first USATF Indoor nationals). Hakim McMorris finished strong with a second in the vault and in the 1,000 m to get second with 6,011. Garland moved to no. 5 on the world list for 2025 and McMorris is now no. 9.
There were only eight competitors who showed up for the women’s 60 m, so it went right to final. World leader Jacious Sears got off well, but Celera Barnes, third in the 2024 Indoor nationals, was right there and leaned better to win, with both in 7.11. Barnes won by 3/1000ths – 7.104 to 7.107 – and moves to equal-7th in the world for 2025. Mikiah Brisco got third in 7.18.
The women’s 400 m belonged to Paris Olympian – and defending champion – Alexis Holmes, who took the lead coming into the bell and ran away to win in 50.51, now no. 2 in the world for 2025. It’s also the no. 9 performance in U.S. indoor history. Rosie Effiong was a clear second in 51.43, ahead of 2016 champ Quanera Hayes ( 51.47).
Olympic Trials winner Nia Akins looked to be the favorite in the women’s 800 m, but it was former Texas All-American Valery Tobias who took control and had the lead at the bell. Akins moved up confidently and surged past on the run-in to win her second U.S. indoor title in 1:59.31. She’s now no. 10 all-time U.S. indoors. Tobias got a lifetime best – indoors or out – in 1:59.55. Sage Huerta-Klecker got a lifetime best of 2:00.13 in third. Akins and Tobias are now nos. 3 and 5 in 2025.
The ageless Vashti Cunningham – still just 27 – won her ninth consecutive USATF Indoor title and 15th national title at 1.94 m (6-4 1/4), beating Charity Hufnagel on misses at that height. Both missed 1.97 m (6-5 1/2). Jenna Rogers was third at 1.91 m (6-3 1/4).
Olympic bronze medalist Jasmine Moore was the headliner in the women triple jump, with just four competitors entered. Only three actually jumped and Moore took the lead in round two at 13.81 m (45-4 3/4), and improved to 13.90 m (45-7 1/4) in round three. That was enough to win, with Mylana Hearn second in 13.60 m (44-7 1/2). It’s Moore’s first national title in the event.
The women’s Weight was a first-to-last round win for Rachel Richeson, who grabbed the lead at 24.87 m (81-7 1/4) on her first try and improved in rounds 5 and 6 to reach 25.26 m (82-10 1/2) for her first national title. Erin Reese, the two-time defending champ, was second at 24.91 m (81-8 3/4) also in the sixth round. Richeson (nee Tanczos) remains at no. 7 on the all-time U.S. list.
The World Athletics Indoor Championships are next, in Nanjing (CHN) from 21-23 March.
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