Shot putter Chase Ealey, pentathlete Anna Hall both have American records in sight at USATF nationals

By David Woods for DyeStat

Chase Ealey has had such an unusual ascension in track and field, there has to be an unusual explanation. Folks back home in Los Alamos, N.M., have one.

The sprinter-turned-thrower is so athletic “because of the radiation,” they joke. “It’s, like, in the water,” Ealey said.

Los Alamos, a city of 13,000, is site of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where an atomic bomb was developed during World War II.

Ealey’s mother, Michelle Naranjo-Martinez, was at the news conference Wednesday for the USATF Indoor Championships at Albuquerque, N.M.

“Turn out the lights,” she said, “and she’ll glow for you.”

No radiation needed.

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Ealey is a bright light in this sport. Last year, she became the first American woman to win a shot put gold medal at an outdoor World Championships. And she finished second in Track & Field News’ U.S. athlete of the year voting behind Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

Ealey said she is eager to return to New Mexico to perform in front of family and friends, even though she won the second of two U.S. indoor titles at the Albuquerque Convention Center in 2020. She said she was not the athlete then that she is now.

On Saturday, she will try to break the American record – 66-3.75 (20.21 meters) – shared with Michelle Carter. Ealey won with a world-leading 65-8.75 (20.03m) at the 115th Millrose Games last week.

“I had a bit of a rocky start to the indoor season,” she said. “My whole goal this indoor season was to smash the American record, instead of just tying it. I kind of feel I’m getting back on my feet now. So now that’s back on the table.”

When reflecting on her high school days, she said, it was all about sprinting. The 5-foot-10 Ealey won a four-year sweep of state titles in the 100 meters, featuring a time of 12.35 seconds as a senior in 2012. She was encouraged to try the shot, too, and won a couple of state titles in becoming a 47-foot thrower.

“I feel like I’m back there right now,” she said. “Being a sprinter and stuff, it’s weird. The one who sprinted and threw on the side. And now it’s definitely not.”

She continued her growth at Oklahoma State, finishing second at NCAAs with a 59-foot performance in 2016 and exceeding 60 feet to place seventh at the Olympic Trials that year.

A case of COVID-19 left her in a weakened state at the 2021 trials, and she finished fifth to miss out on the Tokyo Olympics.

In another twist, she then relocated to York, England, to train under Paul Wilson. The coach is “very chill,” Ealey said, and it has, in turn, allowed her to relax and throw farther.

“I don’t have as much anxiety with certain things,” Ealey said. “I think it’s made me a better athlete because I can train better.”

Ealey finished second to Maggie Ewen in last year’s nationals at The Podium in Spokane, Wash., then secured a silver medal at the World Indoor Championships in Serbia. Ealey was unbeaten outdoors, featuring 11 consecutive wins, plus World and Diamond League titles.

Five events not enough for Hall

With indoor PBs this season of 8.17 for 60 hurdles and 51.45 for 400 meters, Anna Hall is fit. Maybe fit enough to challenge the American pentathlon record or even 5,000 points.

“Really, the goal is just to put together a solid multi this weekend. But I would be a bit absent-minded not to notice if I put together a solid multi, the American record is probably on the table,” Hall said. “And if I have a perfect day, maybe 5,000 points.

“Really, just focusing on five solid events and not fixating much on the records. I’m only 21 and far from my peak, and we have lots of years to chase them.”

Hall’s pentathlon PB is 4,618 points from last year’s Southeastern Conference Indoor meet. The American record of 4,805 was set in Albuquerque by Sharon Day-Monroe in 2014.

Hall’s five PBs – 60 hurdles (8.17), high jump (6-2.25/1.89m), shot put (43-4.25/13.21m), long jump (19-9/6.02m), 800 meters (2:05.33) – add up to 4,815 points, according to the USATF points calculator.

Hall, a heptathlon bronze medalist at 2022 Worlds, is also top seed in the 400. She is trying to be the first woman in meet history to win a running event, in addition to the pentathlon, in the same year. (Erica Bougard won the pentathlon and long jump in 2017 in Albuquerque.)

Hall is exploring events such as the 400 – in which she aims to make a U.S. team in the 4x400 relay someday – and 400 hurdles, in addition to combined events.

“It’s kind of anticlimactic to be done on the first day and wait for two days,” she said.

Trials in the 400 are Friday and the final Saturday.

Contact David Woods at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.