Check out all the fun we had at the 2023 USATF Indoor Championships!! All photos by Jan Figueroa
Katie Wasserman (third from left) and Abby Nichols (fifth from left) started off the weekend for us in the Women’s 3,000 meters on Friday afternoon.
Abby was all business moments before the gun went off.
Abby found herself in a late-race battle for fifth with 2022 NCAA Steeplechase champion Courtney Wayment.
Abby kicked her way past Courtney and finished fifth place in 9:02.57.
Post-race smiles with winner Val Constein. Abby and Val are both former CU Buffaloes.
Katie finished 12th. Her indoor season included personal bests at the mile and the 3,000 meters.
Olin Hacker was up next in the men’s 3,000 meters.
Olin has a history of being a great championship racer. He won the 2022 NCAA Championships at 5,000 meters.
Olin mid-pack, and staying relaxed, early on.
Olin going all Michael Jordan as things started heating up.
The last five laps were FAST. Olin ran laps of 30.19, 30.29, 31.00, 29.27, 27.03 to close in 2:27 for final kilometer.
Olin finished in third place in his first ever senior level national championship.
On Saturday it was Abby Nichols back at it again, along with Krissy Gear, in the women’s 1500 meters.
Krissy came into this race off of four straight race/heat wins and personal bests in the 800, 1k, and mile.
Abby moved up over the second half of the race to finish sixth in 4:21.96.
Krissy threw down a 60-second final 400 (29.28 final 200) to storm home in third place. It was our second bronze medal of the weekend.
Congrats to Krissy and to race winner Nikki Hiltz. They ran a 28.47 final lap to capture their first ever national title.
Thanks to everyone who cheered for us this weekend, and throughout the indoor season. And a shout out to Cruz Culpepper who finished 10th for us in the Men’s 1500. We just didn’t have a picture of him. Way to go Cruz! We’ll see everyone in the outdoor season!!
