Hocker's Kick Overtakes Another Strong Championship Field; Elle Purrier-St. Pierre Rebounds With 3,000m Victory

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Cole Hocker's grip on American middle distance running cinched tighter Sunday in front of a packed grandstand at The Podium on the final day of the USATF Indoor Championships. 

Still too young to buy celebratory beers, the 20-year-old sensation was able to navigate traffic, kick into high gear over the final 75 meters and stick two fingers in the air as he broke the meet record in the 1,500 meters with 3:39.09. 

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Hocker was sixth with 400 meters to go and third at the bell, but found his way past Henry Wynne and Josh Thompson and left them on the home straightaway as a crowd of 4,000 roared. 

"I timed (my move) luckily in time," Hocker said. "I knew I had the kick. I just needed to get around."

Hocker was doubling back from victory in the 3,000 on Saturday to face a new group of pros with fresh legs and aspirations. The only other runner in both events was James Randon, formerly of Yale, who was eighth Sunday and 15th on Saturday. 

Hocker was the first to pull off the 1,500/3,000 double at the U.S. indoor championships since Paul Chelimo did it in 2018. 

Hocker will decide soon whether he will compete at the World Indoor Championships scheduled for March 18-20 in Belgrade, Serbia, or pocket his prize money and two new titles and get ready for the outdoor season. 

In a city with a treasured distance running heritage, Hocker made new fans. 

"If I can get some fans behind me, and I appreciate everyone that cheers me on, it makes it feel so much cooler," Hocker said. "To fans like that in America, it's really special."

Josh Thompson of the Nike Bowerman Track Club finished second in 3:39.24 to earn the second berth on the U.S. team and he said he is definitely going to to the World Indoor Championships. Thompson finished sixth at the U.S. Olympic Trials final last June. 

Elle Purrier-St. Pierre returned to the track and used the frustration of a narrow loss in the 1,500 meters to dominate a 3,000-meter field that included Alicia Monson and Weini Kelati. 

"Pretty happy with it, still pretty pissed about (Saturday), not going to lie," Purrier-St. Pierre said. 

After placing third Saturday and missing the second team berth by .01 seconds, Purrier-St. Pierre didn't pause to talk to reporters. She had a long talk with her husband after leaving the arena and returned Sunday motivated to set things right.

"I definitely used that fire to come back today and I knew I was capable of doing it," she said. "Yesterday's race was not really a representation of my fitness."

Monson led the first 13 laps (of 15) before Purrier-St. Pierre pounced and kicked to the win in 8:41.53. Her final 200 was clocked in 28.88 seconds. 

Grant Holloway continued his mastery of the 60-meter hurdles, an event where he hasn't lost since early in his high school career, and he matched the meet record with 7.37 seconds. 

Gabbi Cunningham ran a new personal best 7.82 to win the women's 60-meter hurdles. 

In a pair of close finishes to conclude the meet, Christian Coleman and Mikiah Brisco won the 60-meter dashes. 

Coleman equaled the world lead with 6.45 seconds and beat Marvin Bracy, who matched his personal best with 6.48. 

Brisco defeated U.S. leader Marybeth Sant-Price by .01 seconds, 7.07 to 7.08. 

Ashland University's Trevor Bassitt struck a blow for NCAA Division 2 athletes when he won the men's 400 meters in 45.75. Bassitt will represent his school at his final NCAA Division 2 Indoor Championships in two weeks and then plans to represent the U.S. for the first time at World Indoors. 

Bassitt pointed to the patch on his Ashland uniform that reads "Jud" in reference to the death of head coach Jud Logan, who passed away in December. 

"I'm going to give everything I have for my school and everything I have for my country, and I can't wait to do it," Bassitt said. 

Bryce Hoppel cruised through the men's 800 meters final with confidence and won by a full second in 1:45.30. 

In the women's 800 meters, Ajee' Wilson snapped up her 12th U.S. title with a dominant victory in 2:01.72 as New Jersey products went 1-2. Olivia Baker took second in 2:02.14. The event was contested without a third New Jersey native, Olympic champion Athing Mu. 

Shot put world record holder Ryan Crouser launched four of his six attempts past 22 meters and hit a best of 73-10.25 (22.51m) but did it with a sore right elbow. He explained that the soreness creeps up about this time of the year when he's making the transition from heavy lifting to heavy throwing with imperfect technique. 

Vashti Cunningham won her 10th national title in the women's high jump even as she had a relatively off day with a best clearance at 6-3.25 (1.91m). She beat Nicole Greene and training partner Jelena Rowe on the strength of zero misses until she reached 6-4.25 (1.94m).

Sandi Morris outlasted Olympic champion and training partner Katie Nageotte to win her fourth U.S. indoor title. Morris made it over 15-9 (4.80m) on her second attempt and went out at 16-0 (4.88m). Nageotte, working off a short approach, reached 15-7 (4.75m). 

Twin sisters Amanda Moll and Hana Moll of the Northwest Pole Vault Academy and high school juniors at Capital High in Olympia, Wash. competed well against some of the best women in the world. Amanda Moll matched the national high school record in the pole vault with 14-9 (4.50m) and finished in a tie for fourth. Hana Moll, who had beaten her sister throughout the indoor season, was seventh with 14-5.25 (4.40m).

Garrett Scantling capped off a strong showing in the men's heptathlon with a gutty 1,000 meters that delighted the crowd. His 6,382 points moved him to No. 3 on the U.S. all-time list behind Ashton Eaton and Dan O'Brien. 

The top six in the competition achieved personal-best scores. 

Jarrion Lawson brought an exciting conclusion to the men's long jump, getting off a sixth-round effort of 26-10.50 (8.19m) to win his first U.S. title since 2018. Marquis Dendy took the lead in the fifth round and finished second with 26-8.50 (8.14m). First-year pro JuVaughn Harrison, already the high jump champion, finished third with 26-5 (8.05m).

Lynna Irby won the women's 400 meters in 51.88, holding off Jessica Beard (52.05) in the homestretch.

Keturah Orji had the four best jumps of the competition to win the women's triple jump. Her best mark came on her first attempt, when she went 46-10.25 (14.28m). 

Donald Scott outjumped Chris Carter and Will Claye to secure the men's triple jump with 55-4.75 (16.88m).

Alex Young edged out Daniel Haugh to win the national title in the weight throw by two inches. Although it's not a World Indoors event, Young was happy to secure the win with 81-6 (24.84m). Fifth-place finisher Vlad Pavlenko, who achieved a big personal best, talked emotionally after the competition about concern for his extended family in the Ukraine since the outbreak of the Russian invasion. 

Janee Kassanavoid, a newcomer to the weight throw competing for just the second time indoors, won the women's title with a new personal best of 79-8 (24.28m).