USATF Indoor Championships 2014

USATF Indoor Championships: Women's 1500m preview

USATF Indoor Championships: Women's 1500m preview

Feb 21, 2014 by Christopher Chavez
USATF Indoor Championships: Women's 1500m preview


Will we see a repeat of this in 2014?

One year ago, Mary Cain was coming off a second place finish at the Millrose Games and it was no longer a question as to whether or not the 16-year old could compete against professionals, but would she be the favorite to win at the U.S. Indoor Championship. In a tactical race, Cain proved to be dominant again and won her first US Indoor title. 

Now 17-years-old and with a full year of training under Alberto Salazar, Cain appears to be a lock to make her second national team and represent the United States in Poland for the IAAF World Indoor Championships. Cain is arguably the most dominant female runner on the track right now not named Dibaba. 2014 has been a year filled with World Junior Records, American Junior Records and World Leading Times as Cain’s 4:24.11 from the Terrier Invite on Jan. 24 is the fastest women’s mile run on the year. 

At the Millrose Games, no one went with pacer Heather Kampf, but it was Cain who took command of the race once the rabbit stepped off. She has shown she can dictate a tactical affair and hold off training partner Treniere Moser going into the last lap of a race.

Moser has typically been behind Cain for the most part of the indoor season, which was not the case at the U.S. Outdoor Championships, when the former Hoya took the U.S. crown from Cain in the final 100-meters of the 1,500-meter final in Des Moines. Moser was second at the Millrose Games as she set an indoor mile personal best of 4:28.86. If healthy and back into form, Moser could get another chance at wearing the red, white, and blue after a hamstring injury sidelined her at the 2013 IAAF World Championship in Moscow. 

A case could also be made for Gabe Grunewald, Sarah Brown and Amanda Winslow as the second representative for the United States in Sopot. 

Grunewald is coming off a 8:53.87 performance in the women’s 3,000-meter run at the Millrose Games. She has not raced shorter than two-miles since she opened her season with a 4:12.76, when she just lost to Hellen Obiri by two seconds in Glasgow. Last summer, she did have the 10th fastest 1,500-meter time in the world with a 4:01.48 in 2013. Grunewald will run the women’s 3,000-meter run on Saturday first. 

Brown, who replaced Moser on Team USA in Moscow, ran her indoor mile personal best  of 4:29.62 at the New Balance Games and then placed fourth at the Millrose Games’ Wannamaker Mile. 

Winslow looks to rebound after her ninth place finish at the Millrose Games. Her 4:26.28 mile from Feb. 8 is the third fastest in the world. Do not count out the Oiselle breakout star. 

Jordan Hasay could enter the conversation, if she does not make the women’s 3,000-meter team and then races on Sunday. She looked in great shape while running 4:28.37  at the BU Terrier Invitational and already posted an easy 4:43.58 run at altitude with Shannon Rowbury (entered in the second heat of the women’s 1,500-meter run). 

Thirteen women will compete for two tickets to Sopot. The race is scheduled to go off at 1:53 on Sunday afternoon.

Women 1500m (courtesy to USATF)
Name Affiliation Mark Status Declaration
Sarah Brown New Balance 4:11.27 qualified declared
Gabriele Grunewald Brooks / Team USA Minnesota 4:12.76 qualified declared
Mary Cain Nike 4:24.11 qualified declared
Amanda Winslow Oiselle / New Jersey New York Track Club 4:26.28 qualified declared
Jordan Hasay Nike 4:28.37 qualified declared
Treniere Moser Nike 4:28.86 qualified declared
Heather Kampf Asics / Team USA Minnesota 4:30.14 qualified declared
Morgan Uceny adidas 4:30.57 qualified declared
Stephanie Charnigo New Jersey New York Track Club 4:33.87 qualified declared
Katherine Mackey Brooks 4:34.99 qualified declared
Sara Vaughn Brooks 4:35.07 qualified declared
Rebecca Tracy   4:35.36 qualified declared
Amanda Mergaert Oiselle 4:35.90 qualified declared
Melissa Agnew Twin Cities Track Club 4:38.05 qualified declared
Rebecca Friday Adidas/RogueAC 4:38.24 qualified declared
Laura Thweatt Boulder Track Club 4:38.26 qualified declared
Clerc Simpson Brooks 4:41.72 qualified declared
Lindsey Drake Bowerman Athletic Club 4:42.32 qualified declared
Dana Mecke   4:42.79 qualified declared
Brigitte Mania Connecticut 4:43.68 qualified declared
Shannon Rowbury Nike 4:43.71 qualified declared
Carmen Graves Roanoke Valley Elite 4:45.98 qualified declared
Heather Wilson New Jersey New York Track Club 4:33.45 qualified scratched
Catherine Beck Central Park Track Club (CPTC) New Balance 4:40.47 qualified scratched
Erin Koch Central Park Track Club (CPTC) New Balance 4:46.59 qualified scratched