USATF Day 2 , Some Observations on the second day of the USATF Indoor: Deep thoughts from the Ocean Breeze AC

These are the observations on the second day of the US Champs, held last weekend, February 22-23, 2025. This was written by the Editor and Co-Founder of RunBlogRun, Larry Eder.

USATF Day 2, Some Observations on the second day of the USATF Indoor: Deep thoughts from the Ocean Breeze AC

The USATF Indoor Champs, held Feb 22-23, 2025, was a substantial success. It is a strange and long year, for that matter,  as World Athletics has decreed that all athletics events will be done before the Tokyo 2025 World Champs to give them more stature.

The season begins with the World Champs in Nanjing, which have been cancelled twice. Concerns have been raised regarding COVID-19 or the flu in China, and we have been told there are some challenges in naming a USATF team for the World Champs. We are checking on the validity of that situation. We understand that the team will be named March 13.

One of my friends, Mark Bossardet, a long-time viewer of the sport, suggested that I consider the US indoors a developmental event. It is open to athletes of all levels, new to elite or hoping to become elite, as long as they reach the standards for the US Champs.

I have deep thoughts after spending four days in Elizabeth, Newark, and Staten Island, New York. You will be happy to know that the Ocean Breeze Facility will also host the 2026 US Indoor Champs. Make your plans now and get to the meet! Well run, with good snacks and a knowledgeable crowd, the OBAC is one of the finest and fastest facilities in the world.

1. Kudos to Laura Primerano and Lou Vasquez, two prime movers behind the Ocean Breeze Athletics Center. From the security folks to the volunteers, the OBAC is well run and a perfect place for the USATF Indoors and any other Indoor Championships.

2. USATF has just moved its streaming services and production from Runnerspace to a new company, JOYMO. The cost for streaming is $9.95. Furious about the lack of TV coverage of the US indoor on Saturday, Grant Holloway asked fans to ignore the streaming and watch everything online. He does not have an issue with the streaming per se; it is the charging for the streaming and lack of coverage. We love the crew, Dan O’Brien, Darrell Hill, Dawn Harper, and Paul Swangard, who did the coverage. We are disappointed that USATF, for the third year now, has put one of the days behind a paywall. It destroys any chance…