Five Distance Storylines at USATF Indoors

By Chris Lotsbom, @ChrisLotsbom for Dyestat

With the 2017 USATF Indoor Championships nearly here, all eyes turn to Albuquerque, N.M. Although there are no IAAF World Indoor Championships this year, the competition is still primed to be fierce at altitude. World-leading runners will square off against global medalists and rising stars, making for a highly anticipated weekend of racing. Here are five distance storylines to watch for:

The 2017 USATF Indoor Championships will be broadcast live Saturday and Sunday, March 4-5 via USATF.TV and NBCSN. All events from these broadcast windows will be made available for on-demand viewing on USATF.TV. The USATF.TV broadcast will require a RunnerSpace +PLUS subscription. Sign up here for RunnerSpace +PLUS.

1) New Jersey/New York TC Go West: While Oregon-based training groups are thriving this indoor campaign, so are the rag-tag hard workers in New Jersey. Coach Frank Gagliano’s HOKA ONE ONE New Jersey/New York Track Club has whipped into supreme shape heading into the championship meet, focusing on the men’s mile. Kyle Merber has challenged for the win at the 110th NYRR Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile (3:54.67, placing third), helped set a world-best 4xmile relay (splitting 3:57.88) and ran a new personal-best 3:52.22 on Sunday at the Boston University Last Chance meet. This could be Merber’s best shot yet at a national title, and he is the favorite.

Throw in teammates Ford Palmer and Johnny Gregorek fresh off new bests of 3:53.15 and 3:54.92, respectively, and the team is pounding on the door for national honors. They always run particularly well indoors, too. 

2) Ajee’ Wilson’s quest for title Number Four: Ajee’ Wilson looked smooth as silk Feb. 11 setting an American record over 800 meters, crushing a 1:58.27 world lead at the NYRR Millrose Games. Wilson won USATF Indoor crowns in 2013, 2014 and 2016, though all of the national titles came over 800 meters. At this year’s USATF Indoor Championships, she’ll go for career title number four in the 600 (there is no 800 this year). She currently holds the world lead in the 600 (1:24.48), but will have to defeat Olympic 4x400 relay gold medalist Courtney Okolo and 2:00.76 800-meter ace Kendra Chambers in order to secure her fourth championship.

If Wilson is running out front, look for her to clock a quick time despite the altitude. The last time she raced 600 meters at a USATF Indoor Championships was in 2015, when she tripped and fell to the track. She’ll get her chance for redemption in New Mexico. 

While we’re talking about the 600, don’t overlook Donavan Brazier on the men’s side. Although he ran sub-par races in Boston and New York to kick off the season, he’s due for a breakthrough. That’ll be a must-watch race with Brooks Beasts Casimir Loxsom and Shaquille Walker also toeing the line.

3) Boston University Rematch, Plus an Olympic Medal: A thrilling 5,000 meters played out Sunday in Boston, with Canada’s Mo Ahmed leading seven men under 13:15. Two of those men were reigning world indoor silver medalist Ryan Hill (13:07.61) and Nike Bowerman Track Club training partner Woody Kincaid (13:12.22). While the altitude might slow things down quite a bit, the men’s 2 mile at the USATF Indoor Championships is shaping up to be a rematch between the two Portland-based athletes, plus Olympic 5,000-meter silver medalist Paul Chelimo. Throw in Garrett Heath, Brian Shrader, and Mason Ferlic, and it’ll be a very competitive field. Times are out the window in this one, it’s all about pride and taking home the win. With a victory comes the honor of being national champion and a $6,000 bonus. 

4) Women’s Mile Mania: When five milers in the field have run sub-4:30 this year, you know it’ll be a great race. Nike Bowerman Track Club teammates Shelby Houlihan and Colleen Quigley top the speed charts in the women’s mile with bests of 4:24.16 and 4:24.88, attained in a memorable race Feb. 10 at Boston University, where the pair edged Rachel Schneider (4:25.62). All three will reunite at altitude, joined by Heather Kampf, Alexa Efraimson, Cory McGee and Eleanor Fulton. Kampf (4:28.39) and Efraimson (4:29.54) broke 4:30 at the NYRR Millrose Games and are known to run big on the brightest stage. 

Some might remember the last time the USATF Indoor Championships were in Albuquerque in 2014, when Mary Cain ran a 30.02-second last lap off a slow opening pace (66.7 for the first 400 meters, then 2:16 at 800) to win the national 1,500-meter title in 4:07.05. The performance stunned the nation as the bubbly teen toasted the field. While that was a 1,500, it only showed that fast times are possible in Albuquerque.  

5) Clayton Murphy vs. Robby Andrews: Olympic 800-meter bronze medalist Clayton Murphy and mile ace Robby Andrews are great friends. They’ll square off in the 1,000 meters, meeting in the middle of their best respective disciplines. While Murphy vs. Andrews would be a battle for the ages, they’ll be surrounded by a group of fast companions on the line. Could one of the other competitors – perhaps Brannon Kidder, Andrew Wheating, or Drew Windle – play spoiler? The 1,000 is an unpredictable indoor distance where anything and everything can happen. This one will be a toss-up, but a must-see Sunday. Fittingly, it is the final distance event of the championships. 

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The 2017 USATF Indoor Championships will be broadcast live on Saturday and Sunday, March 4-5 via USATF.TV and NBCSN. All events from these broadcast windows will be made available for on-demand viewing on USATF.TV. The USATF.TV broadcast will require a RunnerSpace +PLUS subscription. Sign up here for RunnerSpace +PLUS.