Hiltz, Prakel Earn Victories at the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships 

USATF Release

DES MOINES, Iowa – It was an evening of big finishes in Des Moines on Tuesday night, as Nikki Hiltz and Sam Prakel kicked to victory at the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships hosted by the Grand Blue Mile.

The USATF 1 Mile Road Championships are the fifth stop on the 2023 USATF Running Circuit. Watch both races on demand on USATF.TV with a +PLUS subscription.

The women’s race started first, as the gun sounded and the runners took to racing through the streets of Des Moines. Katie Camarena led the way early, guiding a large pack of competitors through the first 400m in 66 seconds. Camarena and Jenn Randall continued to push the pace as they came through 800 meters in 2:14.

The field started to string out ever so slightly just before the 1200m mark, as the runners came through in 3:26. Camarena started to slide back, while reigning USATF Outdoor 1500m champion Sinclaire Johnson and Hiltz jumped to the lead and started to push the pace. 

With 100 meters to go, Hiltz started to pull away from Johnson and with 20 meters left Hiltz put in one final push to cross the finish in victorious fashion, earning their second USATF 1 Mile Road Championship title, having also won in 2019. Hiltz would edge Johnson 4:28-4:29 for the win.

Behind the lead duo, NAIA standout Addy Wiley was able to edge Olympian Colleen Quigley and experienced pro Shannon Osika in the final moments of the race, as all three runners crossed in 4:31, with Wiley taking third, Quigley fourth, and Osika fifth.

Alexina Tuebel would also run to a finish time of 4:31, grabbing sixth place in the process. Alli Cash and Jenn Randall crossed in seventh and eighth, running 4:32 and 4:33, while Micaela DeGenero and Helen Schlachtenhaufen rounded out the top 10 with times of 4:34 and 4:37.

In the men’s race, current Drake University All-American Isaac Basten led the early charge, bolting out and building a sizeable lead over the field, coming through 400 meters in 54 seconds, five seconds up on the rest of the field. He continued to push the pace through 800 meters in 1:54, when he stepped off the road and let the pack go by. They would pass through 800m in 2:03.

Once Basten let the field past, Casey Comber would jump to the lead and push the next quarter mile. The pack with Comber was sizeable, as most of the field was still in contact as the final quarter mile came into view.

With less than 200 meters to go, Prakel would slingshot around Comber and defending champion Vincent Ciattei and start his drive to the finish. Prakel pumped his arms furiously, focused on the finish tape. As Prakel hit the tape, he pumped his fist, claiming his second USATF 1 Mile Road Championship title, after winning in 2020. Prakel crossed the finish in 4:02.

While Prakel pulled away in the final moments of the race to win, the next seven places would be earned within two seconds of one another, providing a thrilling finish for the fans lining the final stretch in Des Moines. 

Comber edged Ciattei at the line, each finishing with a 4:03 time. Ciattei grabbed third, while Nick Randazzo took home fourth in 4:04, while Kasey Knevelbaard and Jake Gillum each finished in 4:04 in fifth and sixth overall. 

Shane Streich and David Ribich finished seventh and eighth, both in a time of 4:05. Craig Nowak and Colin Abert rounded out the top ten with their ninth- and 10th-place finishes, crossing the finish in 4:06 and 4:08, respectively.

The next stop on the USATF Running Circuit takes place on Saturday, May 13, as the USATF 25 km Championships take place in Grand Rapids, Michigan, hosted by the River Bank Run.

About the USATF Running Circuit

The USATF Running Circuit is a USATF road series featuring USATF championships from one mile through the marathon and consistently attracts the best American distance runners with more than $500,000 to be awarded in total prize money. A total of $25,000 in prize money will be awarded at the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships.

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USATF Running Circuit race. For the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships, scoring is set as 15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1, with those earning the most points receiving prize money at the end of the series.

The mission of the USATF Running Circuit is to showcase, support and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USATF Running Circuit and its races have provided over $7 million to U.S. distance runners.

Contributed by Scott Bush