“I think it’s wide open. I think it’s hard to compete when you know that people have been at that level and they know what it takes to be at that level. That’s one thing that’s super hard about it. When you've been there before, you know it’s a little bit easier to get back there because you’re like, “OK. I know exactly what I need to show up and how I can do it.” But I haven’t been thinking about the big ‘few’ quite as much as maybe in 2021 when I was just starting to run the 800m at this level. I want to sort of like rely and think about ‘Who am I as a runner?’ as opposed to trying to play whoever else’s game or emulate someone. It’s what works best for me.”

I really enjoy watching Sage Hurta-Klecker race because each time out, she’s going to put herself in the mix and take big swings. She’s done that each of the last three years since turning pro and joining the On Athletics Club in 2022. She’s fully committed to breaking through and make a U.S. team in the 800m, which is one of the toughest teams to make. The commitment is admirable.

We chatted just days after she got into the blocks and opened up her outdoor season with a local 400m in Boulder. It was a tiny PR of 54.78. It speaks to her range with a 1:57 personal best for 800m and 4:25 for the mile.

Hurta-Klecker will race the 1500m at the Penn Relays on April 27th.

You can listen to the full interview with Sage Hurta-Klecker on the CITIUS MAG Podcast – available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your shows.