Jake Freeman, Maria Michta earn gold; Hastings advances at US Indoor Nationals

By ELLIOTT DENMAN
photo by Errol Anderson

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Weight thrower Thomas “Jake” Freeman and racewalker Maria Michta will bring gold medals back to the Metropolitan area after come-through performances on Saturday’s opening-day program of the USA National Indoor Championships

And Natasha Hastings hopes to add one more gold to the Met haul on Sunday at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

While much of the media and TV spotlight focused on the Bernard Lagat-Galen Rupp duel in the men’s 3,000-meter final, and the Jenny Simpson Barringer-Sara Hall clash in the women’s 3,000 – Lagat would outrun Rupp, 7:57.17 to 7:59.91, and Simpson would defeat Hall, 9:02.20 to 9:03.91, in strategic, altitude-impacted races – Freeman and Michta were just as impressive in their specialties.

Last June, Man...