Los Alamos' Ealey wants to 'smash' her shot put record as US Indoor Championships begin here

Sean Reider | Journal Staff Writer, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
·3 min read

Feb. 15—Chase Ealey has competed everywhere: Serbia. Qatar. Colombia. Zürich. As of January, she even trains in the United Kingdom.

But for the Los Alamos native and Los Alamos High School alum, few things are better than simply coming home.

"I always loved doing it on home soil. And this," she said with a smile, "is true-true home soil."

Ealey, the reigning USATF indoor champion and American indoor record holder in women's shot put (20.49 meters), headlines the USATF Indoor Championships, held this weekend at the Albuquerque Convention Center. After a rocky start to her season, the Oklahoma State alum feels like she's back to her original goal of "smashing" the record.

Doing it in Albuquerque would only make it that much sweeter.

"I feel like I'm definitely a way better athlete than the last time the championships were held in Albuquerque," she said. "So, I'm really excited that my family gets to see me compete at the level (of) athlete that I'm at right now."

With indoor championships in 2022 and 2019, Ealey won't be the only one vying for another title this weekend. Bryce Hoppel will go for three-in-a-row after winning the 800 meter dash in 2022 and 2020, the last time the US indoor championships were held in Albuquerque.

"The environment here is very similar to what I'm used to," the Midland, Texas native said. "I do have really fond memories of being here in Albuquerque from when we were back here in 2020. No better place to do it than here to make it three in a row."

History of a different sort will be made this weekend when Hunter Woodhall takes the track for the 400. A two-time Paralympian and three-time Paralympic medalist, Woodhall will be just the second Paralympian to compete at the USATF Indoor Championships after making history as the first double-amputee (both legs) to earn a Division I track and field scholarship.

"I'm thankful and I'm glad to be a representative of the Paralympic movement and really show what we're all about," he said when asked what this entry meant to him. "Hopefully, (I'll) make some strides and add an indoor championship on the Paralympic side of things."

Newly married, this weekend will also be the first time Woodhall competes in the same meet as his wife, Tara Davis-Woodhall. Davis-Woodhall will compete in the long jump after winning NCAA indoor and outdoor championships and a sixth-place finish in the 2021 Tokyo Olympic games.

Rounding out the headliners, 2022 NCAA pentathlon champion Anna Hall will be visiting Albuquerque for the first time in her young professional career — with a slight twist. Hall qualified and plans to compete in the 400 with the fastest time (51.45 seconds) of any entries in addition to her regular duties in the pentathlon.

"It's kind of anticlimactic to be done on the first day," Hall said about her decision.

But as Hall's profile and pentathlon scores continue to grow following a stacked collegiate career, she's adopted a patient mind-set to what the future might hold for her.

"I think I would have to be a little bit absentminded not to notice that if I put together a solid multi that the American record is probably on the table and if I have a perfect day, maybe 5,000 points and beyond," she said. "But really, I'm just focused on putting together five solid events and not fixating too much on the records.

"I'm only 21 — far away from my peak, so we'll have lots of years to chase them."

USATF Indoor Championships: Thursday-Saturday, Albuquerque Convention Center. Click here for the schedule.