EAGLE ROCK, CALIFORNIA, July 20 — With some still recovering from the Olympic Trials, in addition to midday temps hovering around the century mark in Los Angeles, Sound Running’s aptly named Sunset Tour provided relief from the heat and a chance for many to get back into race mode with a final Paris prep, while non-Olympians would be honing their skills for possible post-Paris competitions.
In a pair of women’s middle distance races, Trials 1500 champion Nikki Hiltz aimed to test speed and endurance with a run over 800, followed by a 1500 less than an hour later.
Running for the third time this year at Jack Kemp Stadium, Hiltz was joined in the 800 by Sammy Watson, whose 1:59.98 a week prior at the Ed Murphey Classic in Memphis was her first time dipping under 2:00, and 1500 specialists Anna Camp-Bennett and Oregon Duck and Polish Olympian Klaudia Kazimierska.
Hiltz was first in line behind the pacer and crossed 400 in 57.87, followed by Watson and Camp-Bennett.
Looking unpressed, Hiltz relinquished nothing down the backstretch, headed to the final straight in control and closed in 61.55 for a season-best 1:59.42, followed by Watson (1:59.96) and Kazimierska (2:00.23).
Fifty-eight minutes later, Hiltz was at the line for the 1500, facing Olympic teammates Courtney Wayment (steeplechase), Karissa Schweizer (5K & 10K) and Whittni Morgan (5K), plus Trials 5K 5th-placer Josette Andrews.
At the gun Pacer Susan Aneno jumped to the lead crossing 400 in 62.5, followed closely by Schweizer, with Hiltz planted mid-pack.
Aneno dropped off at 700 and at 800 Schweizer had a 20m lead over Andrews, Kenya’s Flomena Asekol, Laurie Barton and Hiltz.
At the bell, Schweizer had extended her advantage to 2.7 seconds (2:56.63) and passed 1200 in 3:13.0. Morgan, however, had broken away from the pack and was gaining, ahead of Andrews, Asekol and Hiltz.
Morgan passed Schweizer 150 out and took her momentum all the way to the line with her 63.27 final circuit for 4:02.59, 0.20 ahead of Schweizer (4:02.79), with Hiltz’s 63.37 earning 3rd in 4:04.27.
Hiltz explained that the double would aid Olympics preparation, saying, “In Paris it’s going to be a lot of rounds, and the whole point of rounds is just pushing through when it’s uncomfortable. Having 1:59 in your legs definitely was uncomfortable that whole 1500. My race plan was just…
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