USATF Day 2 , Some Observations on the second day of the USATF Indoor: Deep thoughts from the Ocean Breeze AC

These are the observations on the second day of the US Champs, held last weekend, February 22-23, 2025. This was written by the Editor and Co-Founder of RunBlogRun, Larry Eder.

USATF Day 2, Some Observations on the second day of the USATF Indoor: Deep thoughts from the Ocean Breeze AC

The USATF Indoor Champs, held Feb 22-23, 2025, was a substantial success. It is a strange and long year, for that matter,  as World Athletics has decreed that all athletics events will be done before the Tokyo 2025 World Champs to give them more stature.

The season begins with the World Champs in Nanjing, which have been cancelled twice. Concerns have been raised regarding COVID-19 or the flu in China, and we have been told there are some challenges in naming a USATF team for the World Champs. We are checking on the validity of that situation. We understand that the team will be named March 13.

One of my friends, Mark Bossardet, a long-time viewer of the sport, suggested that I consider the US indoors a developmental event. It is open to athletes of all levels, new to elite or hoping to become elite, as long as they reach the standards for the US Champs.

I have deep thoughts after spending four days in Elizabeth, Newark, and Staten Island, New York. You will be happy to know that the Ocean Breeze Facility will also host the 2026 US Indoor Champs. Make your plans now and get to the meet! Well run, with good snacks and a knowledgeable crowd, the OBAC is one of the finest and fastest facilities in the world.

1. Kudos to Laura Primerano and Lou Vasquez, two prime movers behind the Ocean Breeze Athletics Center. From the security folks to the volunteers, the OBAC is well run and a perfect place for the USATF Indoors and any other Indoor Championships.

2. USATF has just moved its streaming services and production from Runnerspace to a new company, JOYMO. The cost for streaming is $9.95. Furious about the lack of TV coverage of the US indoor on Saturday, Grant Holloway asked fans to ignore the streaming and watch everything online. He does not have an issue with the streaming per se; it is the charging for the streaming and lack of coverage. We love the crew, Dan O’Brien, Darrell Hill, Dawn Harper, and Paul Swangard, who did the coverage. We are disappointed that USATF, for the third year now, has put one of the days behind a paywall. It destroys any chance of a good crowd watching the US Nationals.

3. The Sunday broadcast was on NBC and Peacock. NBC does not understand or appreciate the sport. They have returned to the mediocrity of the 1990s and 2000s, when they did track so that they could have the Olympics. NBC Sports is the problem, but it is not the solution. The sad thing is that they did a fantastic job with the Paris 2024 Olympics. NBC could do a great job on track and field; they have to value it like the Olympics they thrive on. 

4.The stands were packed on Sunday, contrary to what Essentially Sports, a site that covers the sport as if it were all about the clickbait, said. Half truths, inaccuracies, and provocative coverage are not focused on what happened but on some soap opera approach to sports, which they hope will grow their numbers. We wish them the best but hope that they improve their game.

5. Stop the insanity! Use “Breaking News” sparingly. While on the subject, the term “Breaking News” makes me want to pull out the airplane vomit bag and use it. Some sites use Breaking News for nearly every post they make, like the child calling Wolf in the children’s story. It is inaccurate and turns readers off. Please use Breaking News when it is actually breaking news.

6. Quincy Wilson placed fifth in the Men’s 400 meters, despite some tough competition. Although he has set one HSR after another this season, he is seventeen. Please give him the time to mature and grow into the phenomenal athlete many think he can become. Quincy puts enough pressure on himself; fans need to cheer him on, not send messages that increase his stress.

7. Sam Kendricks had a scary experience at 5.70 meters. He slipped in the pole vault box and almost went off the back of the pit. Anyone else, anyone with less experience than the two-time Olympic medalist, would have been hurt. Sam had two more attempts at 5.75 meters but did not get his bearings. The Pole vault is done by some of the best athletes in the world. It takes focus, technique, and a constant watch for safety issues. Just because it looks easy does not make it actually easy.

8. Shelby Houlihan competed in her first US Nationals since 2019. She finished second in the 3,000m after leading the entire way, well, except the last 100 meters, and in the 1,500 m, she finished fourth. Shelby looked a little nervous in the 3,000 meters. She had been banned for four years, and her various issues and stances played a big part in the break-up of the Bowerman Track Club. Please give her the time to compete in this modern world and stop the tainted burrito stories. Everyone has heard them, and they are just, well, tacky. Shelby served her time, four years, and she will never get back.

9. Hobbs Kessler doubled at Ocean Breeze AC this past weekend. On Saturday night, Hobbs used his superior speed and ran 27.19 for the last 200 meters to take the 3,0000 meters in 7:38.00 to Dylan Jacobs’ 7 38.02! In the 1,500 meters, Hobbs held off Sam Prakely 3:38.82 to 3:39.14. Hobbs is not going to China, as he is focused on the Road to Tokyo.

10. Nikki Hiltz won the 3000m and 1,500m as well. They used their superior kick to take on Shelby Houlihan and hold off Whitni Morgan in the 3,000m, in a tactical display of kicking talent. In the 1,500 meters, Nikki, confident after their 3,000m win, took off, and no one could get them! One key observer, an Olympic 1,500m runner, told me that Nikki Hiltz is the next big thing. Nikki is not competing in Nanjing, as the Grand Slam Track is coming soon.

11. Ronnie Baker showed his stuff in the Men’s 60 meters. Ronnie gets lost many times in the talent-rich sprints in the US. He took the 60m in OBAC in 6.52 and looks poised for a medal in Nanjing. We wish him luck.

13. Katie Moon won the pole vault with two attempts at 4.80 meters. She then made three attempts at 4.90 meters, coming close, but she had no cigar. The Olympic gold and silver medalist has recently moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to be with her husband, who coaches the sport of crew.

14. Vashti Cunningham has won every US champs, indoor and out, since 2016 in the high jump. Vashti and Charity Hufnagel battled it out at 1.94m. Vashti will have to clear 1.98 to 2 meters to be in the medal hunt in Nanjing. Vashti has cleared 2.01 meters.

15. Grant Holloway won indoor races 81 and 82. Over the 60-meter hurdles, Grant has not lost a race since his senior year in high school. Grant has Olympic gold and silver, three World Outdoor champ golds, 2 World A Indoor Champ golds, the AR at 60 meter hurdles (7.27), and the second-fastest time ever at the 110m hurdles. He also does a podcast with Noah Lyles and Rai Benjamin. Grant is going to Nanjing to get a third gold medal indoors. Grant wants to make history.

16. Masai Russell surprised some with her gold in Paris in the 100-meter hurdles. Her winning season on the indoor circuit, undefeated against the very, very best, has shocked some. On Saturday night, Masai won the 60m hurdles USATF title. Christina Clemons, 2019 WC, will also be going to Nanjing, giving the US three women hurdlers in the 60-meter hurdles!!!!

17. Nia Akins won the Olympic Trials in 2024 but had a tough year, leaving the Brooks Beasts TC. In winter 2025, Nia announced that she would be joining HOKA to compete for their brand. Nia won the 800m title in 2025, going away in PB of 1:59.31. She is back on top!

18. Josh Hoey. Wow. A 3:52 PB mile in December, a 2:14.48 WB/nR for 1,000m in January. A 3:33.61 for 1,500m, another PB on 2 February. On 8 February, Josh held off Bryce Hoppel at 800m in AR 1:43.90. On February 23, Josh Hoey sprinted away from Brandon Miller (1:44.24 PB) and ran another AR of 1:43.24, the second-fastest time in indoor history, second only to Wilson Kipketer’s indoor WR of 1997.

The 2025 USATf Indoor hints at how good the U.S. talent is in 2025; we can not wait until the outdoor season!