by Larry Eder
The 2024 USATF Indoor Championships are being held at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on
Friday, February 16, and Saturday, February 17.
The two-day, very tight schedule goes from 3 PM Mountain Time to 8:30 PM Mountain Time on Friday and from 1 PM to 3:32 PM on Saturday.
The indoor takes on extra significance due to the World Indoor Champs, March 1-3, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland, and the Paris Olympics, July 26-August 11.
Indoor track & field dates back to 1857, in Great Britain, in a meet between Oxford and Cambridge. Indoor Track began in the US in 1866, courtesy of the NYAC and three New York athletes, Henry Buermeyer, John Babcock, and William Curtis (NYAC). The first National Champs were held in 1870 and hosted by NYAC for three years.
Now that you have had the first history lesson on an indoor track, we can get to the fun and meet this weekend!
Events to watch on Friday:
Women’s 800 meters: We have tremendous talent in the women’s 800 meters. Watch Nia Akins, US Champ, indoors and outs in 2023, and sixth place in World Champs in 2024 at 1:57.73 PB.
Men’s 800 meters: Bryce Hoppel, World Indoor bronze medalist; Shane Streich, 1000m AR holder; Isaiah Harris, and Brandon Kidder (both Brooks Beasts TC).
Men’s Pole vault: Sam Kendricks, Olympic bronze medalist and 2-time World Champion, Chris Nilson, Olympic silver medalist, and KC Lightfoot, AR holder, will all be there, a truly tough event.
Women’s 60m Hurdles: Tia Jones, Alaysha Johnson, and Masai Russell are all here, and Tia Jones is second fastest in the world at 7.72!
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, photo by Kevin Morris
Men’s 60m hurdles: One of the best events of the entire Indoor, with Grant Holloway (WR holder 60m hurdles, defending champ, 3-time World Outdoor 110m hurdles), Trey Cunningham, Eugene silver medalist, Daniel Roberts, Budapest bronze medalist. This event is fast and furious; watch for drama!
Women’s 3000 meters: Elle St. Pierre ran 8:25.25 in a titanic battle at NB Indoor GP. I’m looking at Elly Henes and Elle Donahue. Altitude affects the 3000 meters.
Men’s 3000 meters: This is an exciting race. Yared Nuguse is best on paper, but remember, this is at altitude, the first 2k will probably be jogging then the last five laps will be crazy. Watch out for Olin Hacker and Dillon Maggard.
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Women’s 60m-watch for Aleia Hobbs, AR holder; she has much to prove; watch Mikiah Brisco and Celara Barnes.
Men’s 60 meters: The event of the meet. There is lots at stake in Noah Lyles versus Fred Kerley and Christian Colemanstake here. Lyles has run 6.44 this year, Kerley at 6.54; this will be a fast race. Coleman set WR here, and he is on fire. I think that it will take 6.34 to win. It could be a world record.
Men’s shot put: Ryan Crouser has kept it mellow this year. Ryan has set World records both indoors and outdoors. He is a Beastmaster. This could be crazy far, also watch Roger Steen, after those two, this should be a learning experience for the rest of the field.
Women’s Pole Vault: Katie Moon, Olympic, and WC, Sandi Moon, WC silver medalist, both there, profound, deep event. How far will Katie Moon go? Will Sandi challenge her?
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, photo by Kevin Morris
Women’s 1,500 meters: Nikki Hiltz, Elle St. Pierre, Elly Henes, and Emily Mackay look great! This will be tactical.
Men’s 1,500 meters: Watch Hobbs Kessler, the 20 year old is running well, 3.33.66 (an a 3:48 mile). Cole Hocker, who just ran an 8:05 mile; Sam Prakel, World Road mile champ; Henry Wynne; and Craig Engels, one of the most experienced and savvy racers, in this race just short of 8 laps on a 200-meter track.
USATF.TV will host a broadcast on Friday and Saturday LIVE (there is a paywall) from 5-10 PM Eastern time. On Saturday, NBC will show 4-6 PM Eastern and Peacock. USATF.TV will show LIVE on Saturday.
Schedule: https://www.usatf.org/events/2024/2024-usatf-indoor-championships/schedule
Live results here: https://results.usatf.org/2024Indoors/
Entries: https://usatf.sport80.com/public/events/149018/entries/42?bl=wizard
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