Judging by the size of the suitcase Nikki Hiltz was standing next to in the Instagram photo they posted from outside Flagstaff Pulliam Airport a few days ago, they plan to be sticking around Glasgow for a while at the World Indoor Championships, which begin today.
By sticking around, that means making the finals on Sunday after today’s qualifying heats (noon, televised on Peacock). Hiltz is a veteran of international competition, having made the finals in the same event in last year’s World Outdoors Championships.
Hiltz will need to draw upon that experience if they hope to sneak in for a medal — but it appears the Ethiopian contingent is just too strong and might even sweep the podium. Take a look at the numbers: Hiltz’s PR in thre 1,500 is 3:59.61, which is more than a second slower than the third best Ethiopian in the race, Birke Haylom. The Ethiopians figuring to battle for the title are Freweyni Hailu (3:55.28) and Diribe Welteji (3:55.47). Ethiopia swept the podium in the 2022, and it’s good bet it will do so again. Perhaps the only hope? A slow tatcical race with a feverish finishing kick. Don’t count on it.
Meanwhile, Hoka NAZ Elite’s Olin Hacker, running exceptionally well lately, just happens to find himself in what many believe is the most contentious (and highly anticipated) race of the meet — the 3,000 meters. Hacker showed a lot of moxie and speed to take the lead in the U.S. Indoor finals, only to have Yared Nuguse assert himself. But Hacker’s strong 26.39 in the last 200 meters showed he can compete.
Unfortuantely, Hacker finds himself part of a field of epic proportions. It figures to be a three-man race between Nuguse, the American record holder, Brit Josh Kerr, who set the world record in the indoor two mile recently at the Millrose Games, Ethiopian Selemon Barega, the defending 3,000 meter indoor world chapiion and the Olympic 10,000 meter winner. The only way this race could have been more epic was if Jakob Ingebrigtsen was competing but, alas, an Achilles injury forced him out of indoors.
Cole Hocker and Hobbs Kessler lead the U.S. men in the 1,500. Don’t count out ex-NAU star George Beamish (New Zealand) and his famous kick.
Question for readers: Should we consider Kessler an honorary Flagstaffian because he signed with NAU and even took classes before turning pro. He still comes to town occasionally. What do you think?
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