Big Quotes from the NBIGP 2026 Press Conference!

The New Balance Indoor GP Presser was emceed by Geoff Wightman.  A strong turnout of media at the event. Here are some great quotes from the presser! 

NBIGP 2026 Press Conference Quotes

January 23, 2026

DONAVAN BRAZIER – MEN’S 600M

Q. Last year, you were at the NB Indoor and watched the races. Did that inspire you on your comeback?

Donavan Brazier; “I saw the guys racing fast. I mean seeing guys like Bryce and Josh run fast and in Tokyo and outside of that, it just kind of gave me the itch to get back and try to contribute to America andget me to run because they made it so, so great.”

Q. Will you consider the World Indoor in 2026? 

Donavan Brazier: “Kind of depends on how these next two races go. I have the 600 this weekend and then 800 next weekend. So depending on how those two races go will kind of lead up to how next month will be going to USA indoors.”

BRYCE HOPPEL – MEN’S 600M

Q. Tell us about the 600 meters that you will race tomorrow?

Bryce Hoppel: “I mean, just been locking in for getting ready for this indoor season; first 600 meter ever. So it’s not going to be fun. It’ll be fun to run against this guy. And I think the plan is to just leave it all out there, the first 400, and hopefully not walk home in the last 200.”

Bryce Hoppel: ” think the plan for me is to get to world indoors. You know, kind of had the title from 2024 and then took a little bit off here trying to focus on the Tokyo Outdoor Championships, but I think we’re going to run it back this year. So I’m excited to to show that there.”

ELLE ST PIERRE – NEW BALANCE WOMEN’S 3000M

Q. How are feeling about racing a 3,000 meters on Saturday? 

Elle St. Pierre: “I know it’s going to be a competitive race because Jess is in it. It’s going to be honest. It’s going to be fun. You know, I’d like to get a standard and just have fun repping. New balance out there. And with the crowd.”

Q. Are you focused on the World Indoors in 2026? 

Elle St. Pierre:  “[World Indoor Championships is] definitely on the horizon, but I’m just kind of trying to get through this weekend and then Milrose. So, yeah, I’ll be thinking about Worlds.”

JESSICA HULL – NEW BALANCE WOMEN’S 3000M

Q. This early in the season, what do you want to get from this race? 

Jess Hull: “I think just practicing, always some different things. Like, I’ve been an athlete that has been never afraid to send it from the start and put myself way up there. But I think a skill that I can continue to develop is my patience, and it’s not something I’ve really been that great at. So I’m just sort of hoping to lean into that a little bit tomorrow and just sort of see what I can do if I don’tnwaste too much energy in, like, the first thousand meters.”

Q. How do you describer your relaitonship with Elle? 

Jess Hull: “I wouldn’t really say it’s a rivalry. I think I missed Ellie on the circuit last year, particularly indoors, where it’s just like we kind of rock up with the same mentality of we’re not just trying to run a tactical race to win.”

GRANT FISHER – MEN’S 2000M

Q. Tell us about your thoughts on the 2000 meters? 

Grant Fisher: “Yeah, I’m really excited. You know, 2K is a fun distance where we hardly ever race it. I’ve never done a 2K, so you’re kind of guaranteed a PR, which is fun. And yeah, the longer the distance, the more comfortable I feel. So even a step over 1500 or a mile, I’ll take those extra meters.”

Q. Are you considering a triple for LA 2028, like the 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon?

Grant Fisher: “I  think everything’s on the table for 2028. As an American having it in the US it’s a big time of opportunity for us. Yeah, the half marathon will be really fun. Uncharted territory, a new challenge. And yeah, if it goes really well, that’ll kind of inform how I start to feel about the 2028 build. If it goes poorly, then maybe I’ll stick to the track for a little longer.”

Q. What is your fitness at this time of the season? 

Grant Fisher: “You know, this time of the year, it’s really hard to know where your fitness is, and whereneveryone else’s fitness is. And especially for an unknown distance like a 2k, it’s kind of hard gauge out the proper effort. You know, for me, based on my strengths, it’s going to feel like ansprint the whole way. So I’ll be full tilt…”

JAKE WIGHTMAN – MEN’S 2000M

Q. What is more important, a new National record of the win? 

Jake Wightman: “Probably 70 percent, I would like a win. But then I think those times probably dip under tomorrow. But yeah, I just want to race. That’s what this indoor season is about. And 2K is something that again, I have no idea what I can run for it. So I’ll tell you how it goes tomorrow evening. But it’s over distance, which is the whole point of this indoor season: to race something that isn’t my own event and try to get a bit stronger throughout the winter.  I’ll give it a go as always. Yeah, it’s just the way it falls, really, isn’t it? So I think, especially again, it’s like I’m not having a full indoor season. I’m not doing well indoors, so I just get in as good shape as I can for this meet, and a lot of the time it’s not quite good enough to win the race, and yeah, I’ll try and win it. It’d be nice to meet both Global and New Balance in what is probably my home. It’s cool that it’s a good opportunity to win for both of them. So yeah, I’ll try and make it one. It’ll be nice.”

Q. How do you see the 2k distance?

Jake Wightman: “Guess, like this business is like, I think, a K. I would always look at that as like a long 800, 600, always a long 400. A 2K. Yeah. A long 15, I would say. So hopefully not holding on from the mile. Hopefully there’s a bit more life in the legs than that. But yeah, it would just be nice to. I feel like it’s quite a good coming together of it. Where for you from the 5k down? For me 15 up, it’s quite a nice distance because I think a 3K would probably lean still more towards, obviously, Grant. So this is maybe a bit of a better one. And it’s not just us two. There’s a whole field of athletes that some have already raced pretty well, some will receive starting the seasons. But I think it’s going to be a pretty competitive race throughout every athlete in that field, not just us.”

Q. Where do you consider your racing? 

Jake Wightman: “The racing is the bit that we all work towards and it’s kind of a reward for the hard training. I think having not raced champs for a couple years in 23 and 24, it was like reminding myself that that’s what you’re trying to do is like get on that start line and race. And especially coming into a race healthy and fit, it’s like you can’t take that for granted, especially not in old age, like currently going through. So, yeah, just. Just try and find the fun in racing.”

JOSH HOEY – VIVA TEQUILA SELTZER MEN’S 800M

Q. How do you see Wilson Kipketer’s record of 1:42.67?

Josh Hoey: “Yeah, it’s a tremendously impressive record. I’ve seen the race quite a few times, and yeah, I mean, we’ll pace it out for that tomorrow. So I’m excited to give it a shot. I feel like the 600 was a good tune-up for me. A little bit of a test of, of what I would say is under distance. So, yeah, I’m excited.”

NOAH LYLES – JESSE LOUBIER MEMORIAL MEN’S 300M

Q. Tell us about your focus on this 300 meters in the indoor season? 

Noah Lyles: “This is me having fun. This is me doing what I want. Especially since we don’t have, what, the peer pressure of a World Championships or an Olympic Championships. I feel that this
year, you know, my coach and I have just been able to throw ideas at the wall, and finally we have the opportunity to do that. And one of those has been, you know, of course, 300 meters, you know, losing my world record quite a few years ago to Stevie, and now I was like, one day I’m gonna go get that back. So shoot, why not now?”

Q. What do you want from new events? 

Noah Lyles: “I want the best race, I want the best people, the biggest crowd, all the stacks loaded up. I mean, that’s what moments are made of. And we’re here to make fun, entertaining moments.”

ANNA HALL – LONG JUMP, WOMEN’S 400M

Q. Would you like to do 4 events at a meet like this to prepare for the heptathlon? 

Anna Hall: “Yeah, I think if they’re spaced out properly and in the correct order, it definitely does. You know, I wouldn’t want to run the 400 first and then go off to high jump, but if there are opportunities to compete in multiple disciplines on the same day, I think that’s always helpful for me.”

Q. Do you have a favorite event? What is your approach to the heptathlon? 

Anna Hall: “I train every single event twice a week, so quite a lot of hours at the track. So I think it’s hard to say what I spend the most time on because we try to spread it pretty evenly. I guess I’d say I spend the most time throwing just because it’s so technical. It takes the sessions, just take the longest and the least on, probably running, because I think by nature those sessions have to be shorter. You can only run so much.”

Anna Hall, photo by Kevin Morris

Q. Have you been getting excited about LA 2024?

Anna Hall: “I’ve already started to get excited for LA and dream of it. I think I’ve been dreaming of that one for a very long time. So just trying to do everything in my power over the next three years to make sure I can cross that line with no regrets about my preparation, and know that whatever happened was the absolute best I could do. “

CORDELL TINCH – MEN’S 60M HURDLES

Q. How have you spent your time since winning Tokyo? 

Cordell Tinsch: “Just been chilling, enjoying my life with my friends and family, celebrating. That’s when I spent the off-season. I don’t do all the big things, really, just like my quiet life.”

Q. Would you like rounds for the 60 meters indoor? 

Cordell Tinsch (with a bit of a scowl): “No, one race is good enough.”

Q. The start is really important in the 60 meter hurdles. How do you view the importance of the start?

Cordell Tinsch: “Yeah, that’s what I use indoor for Indoor. I don’t really care about times or anything. There are certain things that I want to feel going through it. I’ve always been a finisher in the hurdles. The last five have always been the best part for me. So the better I can get the first five, the only helps even more outside.”

Q. Are you considering the World Indoor Champs?

Cordell Tinch: “You’ll see me for the next two weeks and then I’ll be gone for a while.