STATEN ISLAND, New York, February 28–March 01 — The throwing cage at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex sits behind the far curve of the track, essentially hidden from spectators. But when Chase Jackson unleashed her fifth-round throw in the shot put at the USATF Indoor Championships, she made sure people took notice, thanks to a loud yell of approval. The scoreboard quickly backed up the roar, confirming that Jackson had unfurled an American Record 67-¾ (20.44), crushing her own 66-5 (20.24) from last year.
Abria Smith, last year’s NCAA outdoor runner-up for Illinois, had taken the lead with a PR 63-1¼ (19.23) in the fourth round. That gave Jackson — who had been sick in the days leading up to the meet and hadn’t quite returned to full health yet — the jolt she needed. She responded immediately with a 63-2¾ (19.27) to establish a slight lead, then on her next attempt she came through with her big throw.
“Today was a little rough,” said Jackson. “The ring’s a little fast, we’re throwing indoor balls. A lot of us are on the circuit and we’re used to throwing outdoor balls inside. So there are elements that could lead to it not being a good comp.
“When Abria threw a PB I was like I really don’t wanna leave here without a gold medal, so I’ve gotta turn it on.”
Jackson has won two world outdoor titles but has been frustrated in her attempts to take the indoor crown with a silver and two bronzes to her credit. “I’m so sick of doing indoors and the only way I’m gonna stop is if I finally get a gold medal,” she said with a laugh.
Jasmine Moore was the weekend’s only double winner, sweeping the horizontal jumps. On Saturday she won the long jump at 22-6¼ (6.86), ahead of Monae’ Nichols, who reached 22-¾ (6.72). Claire Bryant, last year’s world indoor champion, took 3rd at 21-11½ (6.69). A day later Moore reached 45-7 (13.89) to take the triple jump over Kayla Woods, who jumped 44-3½ (13.50).
Charity Hufnagel stopped Vashti Cunningham’s streak of U.S. indoor high jump titles at 9, dating all the way back to 2016 (the championships were not held in 2021). Hufnagel cleared 6-5 (1.96) on her final attempt, matching the PR she set in Spain in early February.
“From a technical standpoint, on the lower bars I was being a little bit lazy,” said Hufnagel, who won the ’24 Olympic Trials but didn’t have a qualifying mark for Paris. “But as soon as the bars started getting higher, I started executing better.”
Cunningham made it over 6-4 (1.93) while Anna Hall took 3rd at 6-2¾ (1.90), one week after winning the U.S. pentathlon title.
In the 3000, Emily Mackay was the only athlete to stick with Elle St. Pierre’s quick tempo, and after shadowing her former training partner for most of the way she bolted into the lead on the final backstretch. She won in 8:30.01, moving to No. 9 on the U.S. all-time indoor list. “I had a couple of ideas in my back pocket,” she said of her strategy, “but ultimately I was going off of feel and I know I have a really strong kick, so I felt confident in being patient and waiting until the last 150.”
St. Pierre (8:31.07) took the second spot for Poland, where she will look to win her second world title at the distance.
Another first-time national champion was Addy Wiley, who won the 800 with a bold move to the lead at the bell. She finished in a PR 1:59.43, comfortably ahead of Valery Tobias (1:59.77) and Meghan Hunter (2:00.03). “My body was feeling really eager to attack this race, so when I went I knew it was the right time,” Wiley said.
Nikki Hiltz won the 1500 for the fourth year in a row, using a well-timed kick to prevail in a tactical race in 4:11.34, just ahead of Gracie Morris (4:11.39), Lindsey Butler (4:11.52) and Sinclaire Johnson (4:11.59).
Alaysha Johnson false started in the 60H final, then ran under protest. She gave Alia Armstrong a good race, but her DQ made it a moot point. Armstrong won in 7.82, with Danae Dyer (7.92) and Amber Hughes (7.98) also breaking 8.00.
Armstrong came back the next day and made the final in the flat 60, finishing 5th. That race was won by Jacious Sears in 7.04, followed by Texas high school twins Mia (7.13) and Mariah (7.14) Maxwell. Mia matched the national prep record set by Lisa Raye last year.
Rosey Effiong won the second half of the two-section 400 final, clocking 51.53, just ahead of Bailey Lear’s 51.60 from the first heat.
Chloe Timberg cleared 15-5 (4.70) in the pole vault, with Jessica Mercier and Emily Grove tying for 2nd at 14-11 (4.55).
Though neither event is held at the worlds, national championships were awarded in the 5000 walk and 20-pound weight, won by Lauren Harris (22:14.69 AR) and Jalani Davis (81-6/24.84), respectively.
USATF WOMEN’S RESULTS
60 Meters
1. Jacious Sears (Nike) 7.04 PR;
2. Mia Maxwell (Atascocita, Humble, Tx) 7.13 =HSR (=HSR 7.13 Lisa Raye [West Warwick, RI] ’25);
3. Mariah Maxwell (TxHS) 7.14 (3, 3 HS);
4. Jaslyn Gardner (unat) 7.22; 5. Alia Armstrong (unat) 7.23; 6. E’Lexis Hollis (GSTC) 7.23 PR; 7. Anavia Battle (adidas) 7.28; 8. Jada Mowatt (unat) 7.33.
Heats: I–1. Armstrong 7.18; 2. Gardner 7.23; 3. Battle 7.24 =PR; 4. Mowatt 7.26; 5. Samirah Moody (On) 7.27; 6. Semira Killebrew (unat) 7.32.
II–1. Sears 7.05; 2. Mia Maxwell 7.16 PR (HSL) (=2, =2 HS); 3. McKenzie Long (adidas) 7.20; 4. Mariah Maxwell 7.23 PR; 5. Hollis 7.26 PR; 6. Lia Love (unat) 7.33.
400 Meters
I–1. Bailey Lear (Nike) 51.60; 2. Shamier Little (unat) 51.78; 3. Brianna White (unat) 52.65; 4. Sara Reifenrath (unat) 52.93.
II–1. Rosey Effiong (unat) 51.53; 2. Paris Peoples (unat) 51.65 PR; 3. Abigail Glynn (unat) 52.66; 4. Taiya Shelby (UArm) 52.68.
Heats: I–1. Effiong 52.20; 2. White 52.26; 3. Mia Shepard (unat) 52.88 PR.
II–1. Lear 52.46; 2. Shelby 52.69; 3. Arianna Smith (GSTC) 53.54 PR; 4. Jerzie Finstad (unat) 54.27 PR.
III–1. Little 52.91; 2. Aliya Garozzo (unat) 53.05; 3. Riley Knebes (FastTTR) 54.39.
IV–1. Peoples 52.18; 2. Reifenrath 52.67 PR; 3. Glynn 52.76.
800 Meters
1. Addy Wiley (adidas) 1:59.43 PR (58.63/60.80) (15.05); 2. Valery Tobias (Brk) 1:59.77 (58.25/61.52) (15.02); 3. Meghan Hunter (NikeSwoosh) 2:00.03 (58.85/61.18) (15.41); 4. Maggi Congdon (NikeSwoosh) 2:01.03 PR; 5. Heather MacLean (adidas) 2:03.38; 6. Olivia Baker (AtlTC) 2:09.83.
Heats: I–1. Hunter 2:00.56; 2. MacLean 2:00.60; 3. Honour Finley (unat) 2:02.42; 4. Mallory Lindaman (unat) 2:03.22; 5. Grace Boone (ProBRE) 2:03.26.
II–1. Wiley 2:00.64; 2. Sage Hurta-Klecker (OAC) 2:01.71; 3. Victoria Bossong (NBal) 2:03.10; 4. Olivia Howell (adidas) 2:03.56; 5. Rachel Gearing (AtlTC) 2:03.72; 6. Teagan Schein-Becker (BrkB) 2:04.42.
III–1. Tobias 2:01.00; 2. Congdon 2:01.24; 3. Mckenna Keegan (unat) 2:01.45; 4. Brynne Elizabeth Sumner (unat) 2:02.18; 5. Kassidy Johnson (UArm) 2:02.87; 6. Allie Wilson (NikeSwoosh) 2:05.81.
IV–1. Baker 2:02.24; 2. Paige Sheppard (NBal) 2:02.35 (HSL) (6, 9 HS); 3. Michaela Rose (adidas) 2:03.05; 4. Starlett Price (LightH) 2:03.92; 5. Stephanie Brokaw (unat) 2:05.36.
1500 Meters
1. Nikki Hiltz (lulu) 4:11.34 (14.87, 29.51, 59.22, 2:05.03); 2. Gracie Morris (Puma) 4:11.39 (14.33, 29.06, 59.21); 3. Lindsey Butler (unat) 4:11.52 (15.00, 29.76, 59.56); 4. Sinclaire Johnson (Hoka) 4:11.59 (14.69, 29.43); 5. Taryn Parks (adidas) 4:12.96; 6. Dani Jones (NBal) 4:13.55; 7. Margot Appleton (NBalB) 4:13.65; 8. Emily Mackay (NBal) 4:14.25; 9. Annika Reiss (UArmDS) 4:15.72; 10. Rachel McArthur (Asics) 4:15.96.
3000 Meters
1. Emily Mackay (NBal) 8:30.01 PR (9, x A)
(36.01, 36.88 [72.89], 36.18 [1:49.07], 36.72 [2:25.79], 35.68 [3:01.47], 34.68 [3:36.15], 33.73 [4:09.88], 33.03 [4:42.91], 33.23 [5:16.14], 33.49 [5:49.63], 33.25 [6:22.88], 33.16 [6:56.04], 31.98 [7:28.02], 32.05 [8:00.07], 29.94)
(29.94, 61.99, 2:07.13, 3:13.87, 4:20.13);
2. Elle St. Pierre (NBalB) 8:31.07;
(31.15, 63.22, 2:08.96, 3:15.33, 4:21.61)
3. Margot Appleton (NBalB) 8:41.41 (33.86, 68.02, 2:17.68); 4. Lexy Halladay-Lowry (NikeSwoosh) 8:42.49 (34.46, 69.29, 2:18.95); 5. Elise Cranny (Nike) 8:45.66 (33.99, 70.52, 2:22.44); 6. Christina Aragon (OTC) 8:49.58 PR; 7. Kayley DeLay (Brk) 8:50.61; 8. Elise Stearns (NikeSwoosh) 8:50.83; 9. Annika Reiss (UArmDS) 8:51.40; 10. Sadie Sargent (NikeSwoosh) 8:55.43; 11. Kaylee Mitchell (OTC) 8:55.49; 12. Carlee Hansen (BYU) 8:57.23; 13. Courtney Frerichs (Nike) 8:57.60; 14. Angelina Ellis (UArm) 8:59.82; 15. Katelyn Tuohy (adidas) 9:00.99; 16. Courtney Wayment (NikeSwoosh) 9:01.53.
60 Hurdles
1. Alia Armstrong (unat) 7.82; 2. Danae Dyer (unat) 7.92 PR; 3. Amber Hughes (WinS) 7.98; 4. Gabriele Cunningham (NYAC) 8.01; 5. Alexandra Webster (unat) 8.02 PR; 6. Yasmeen Tinsley (GSTC) 8.20;… dq—Alaysha Johnson (unat); dnc—Anna Hall (adidas).
Heats: I–1. Johnson 7.94; 2. Dyer 7.99 PR; 3. Hughes 8.04; 4. Hall 8.16; 5. Kassidy Hopkins (unat) 8.40.
II–1. Armstrong 7.90; 2. Cunningham 8.04; 3. Webster 8.07 PR; 4. Tinsley 8.23; 5. Ashley Wallace (unat) 8.33; 6. Kayli Johnson (unat) 8.42.
High Jump
1. Charity Hufnagel (unat) 6-5 (1.96) =PR; 2. Vashti Cunningham (NikeRB) 6-4 (1.93); 3. Hall 6-2¾ (1.90); 4. Sanaa Barnes (unat) 6-1½ (1.87); 5. Inika McPherson (unat) 5-10½ (1.79); 6. tie, Taylor Beard (unat) & Morgan Smalls (unat) 5-10½; 8. Allie Wildsmith (USCGA) 5-8½ (1.74).
Pole Vault
1. Chloe Timberg (unat) 15-5 (4.70); 2. tie, Emily Grove (unat) & Jessica Mercier (unat) 14-11 (4.55); 4. Gabriela Leon (unat) 14-11; 5. Tori Thomas (unat) 14-7¼ (4.45); 6. Aliyah Fertig (unat) 14-7¼; 7. Abby Knouff (unat) 14-3¼ (4.35); 8. tie, Sydney Horn (Shore) 13-11¼ (4.25); 8. Nastassja Campbell (unat) 13-11¼;… nh—Payton Phillips (unat), Erin Kelleher (unat), Madison Wulfekotter.
Long Jump
1. Jasmine Moore (Pum) 22-6¼ (6.86) (21-11½, 22-6¼, f, f, 22-5¼, 22-¾) (6.69, 6.86, f, f, 6.84, 6.72); 2. Monae’ Nichols (unat) 22-¾ (6.72); 3. Claire Bryant (adidas) 21-11½ (6.69); 4. Tionna Tobias (unat) 21-5½ (6.54) PR; 5. Parker Coes (unat) 21-3¼ (6.48) PR; 6. Kayla Woods (GSTC) 21-½ (6.41); 7. Ella Scally (unat) 20-8½ (6.31); 8. Tacoria Humphrey (unat) 20-2¼ (6.15);
9. Abigail Mecklenburg (JumpA) 19-8¾ (6.01); 10. Aislinn McElhaney (GSTC) 18-8¾ (5.71); 11. Elizabeth White (unat) 18-3¾ (5.58).
Triple Jump
1. Jasmine Moore (Puma) 45-7 (13.89); 2. Kayla Woods (GSTC) 44-3½ (13.50); 3. Ryann Porter (unat) 44-3½ (13.50); 4. Mylana Hearn (unat) 44-2 (13.46); 5. Agur Dwol (unat) 43-4½ (13.22); 6. Euphenie Andre (GSTC) 43-3 (13.18); 7. Arianna Fisher (unat) 42-8¾ (13.02).
Shot
1. Chase Jackson (Nike) 67-¾ (20.44) AR (old AR 66-5/20.24 Jackson ’25) (f, 61-6¼, 62-8, 63-2¾, 67-¾, p) (f, 18.75, 19.10, 19.27, 20.44, p);
2. Abria Smith (unat) 63-1¼ (19.23) PR (58-7¼, 60-10¾, 55-7, 63-1¼, f, 58-10) (17.86, 18.56, 16.94, 19.23, f, 17.93);
3. Jaida Ross (OTC) 60-5¾ (18.43); 4. Jessica Woodard (IronW) 59-¼ (17.99); 5. Makayla Hunter (unat) 57-7 (17.55); 6. Adelaide Aquilla (unat) 56-10¼ (17.33); 7. Jayden Ulrich (adidas) 56-9¼ (17.30); 8. Jessica Ramsey (adidas) 55-8¼ (16.97); 9. Abby Moore (unat) 55-4¾ (16.88).
Weight
1. Jalani Davis (unat) 81-6 (24.84); 2. Elisia Lancaster (Shore) 74-9 (22.78); 3. Kali Terza (KennSt) 73-10 (22.50); 4. Taylor Gorum (unat) 71-8¾ (21.86).
