The women's 400m field for USATF Indoors in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this weekend features a diverse mix of event specialists and 400m hurdlers, as there's obviously no long hurdle event indoors. While the straight 400m runners will have a clear advantage, it will be interesting to see the hurdlers mix it up in an off event — especially since it's a hurdle specialist, Georganne Moline, who owns the fastest time in the world this year.

Prelims: Saturday, 3:34 PM MT
Semifinals: Sunday, 3:53 PM MT
Finals: 4:02 PM MT

That Moline — who placed fifth in the 2012 Olympic final for 400m hurdles as a 22-year-old — is the world leader for 400m is fairly surprising. Her 51.39 win at the Texas Tech Shootout last weekend was a huge PB and marks just the second sub-52 race of her career. 

Congrats to our very own alum & volunteer assistant coach @Georganne400h on clocking a time of 51.39 in the 400-meter dash to set a new PR, No. 1️⃣ time in the world, facility and meet record‼️#BearDown #BeLezoLike pic.twitter.com/H7aohfiNV9

— Arizona Track & Field (@ArizonaTrack) February 10, 2018

For Moline to make the world team would be pretty shocking, still, as this race is one of the more stacked events at USAs — even with the absence of Team USA's golden girl, Allyson Felix. Every athlete from the 2017 USATF Outdoor 400m final is entered here, except for USC's Kendall Ellis as she is in the midst of the NCAA indoor season. 

Phyllis Francis is the easy favorite as the reigning IAAF world champion in the event, though she recently lost to Shakima Wimbley at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. Natasha Hastings, a perennial member of Team USA's 4x4 squad, and Shamier Little, a 2017 world team member for the 400m hurdles, were also in that race.

Wimbley's season-best mark of 51.82 ties with Quanera Hayes, the reigning U.S. outdoor champion, for sixth fastest in the world this year.

Prediction: 1. Shakima Wimbley 2. Phyllis Francis

Jojo previews the USATF Indoor women's 400m field: