Nia Akins outkicks a field of strong kickers to win 800-meter championship

On Sunday night, Nia Akins (middle) used patience and a perfectly timed kick for an upset win in the 800 meters at the 2023 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field with a time of 1:59.50. Photo by Logan Hannigan-Downs

By Maddie Lang

Five months ago, after winning her first indoor national title in the 800 meters, Nia Akins sat down and, for the first time ever, wrote down the words, “I want to win outdoor nationals.”

“At the time, it just seemed so crazy,” said Akins, who runs for Brooks Beasts. 

In 2021, Akins had fallen at the final 200-meter mark at the outdoor championships. In 2022, she hadn’t made it out of the semifinals. 

On Sunday night, Akins used patience and a perfectly timed kick for an upset win in the 800 meters at the 2023 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field with a time of 1:59.50.

“I turned 25 this week, too,” she said, “and I just can’t believe that this is happening so late in my career.”

Right behind Akins was Tokyo bronze medalist Raevyn Rogers, a former Oregon star running for Union Athletic Club, in 1:59.83 and Kaela Edwards in 2:00.52. 

Coming out of the tunnel, the athletes walked through the cloud of smoke onto the track. The crowd cheered through the athlete introductions, and then it was time for the fun to happen.

The gun went off and after the first-curve stagger, 2023 NCAA champion Michaela Rose of LSU took the lead. 

At the sound of the bell lap, Sage Hurta-Klecker and Rogers positioned themselves behind Rose. Akins was still in the middle of the pack.

With 200 meters to go, Rogers took the lead. Akins was still only in fifth place, but that’s when her kick kicked in.

By the start of the final 100 meters, she was on the shoulder of Rogers, who is known for her strong kick, and by the final 50 meters, Akins had passed her.

“I had to be very patient and very intentional with the last 50,” Akins said.

Akins came across the line first, winning her first outdoor national title. Rogers took second .33 seconds behind her. Rounding out the field for the U.S. national team was Edwards, who was .69 seconds behind Rogers. Ajee Wilson, one of the pre-race favorites, finished last and said after the race that she was dealing with something she wanted to keep “in house.”

Rogers’ time was .03 slower than the qualifying standard for the World Athletics Championships, but it should place her high enough in the rankings to be able to compete.

“I was happy about the time,” Rogers said. “I didn’t care about the place. I was like, ‘I’m going to have the standard.’”

Rogers previously competed at the outdoor worlds in 2019, finishing second, and in 2021, finishing sixth. 

This season she has emphasized focusing on herself and not on the expectations of others. She stays off social media during and around big meets. She is already on her fifth Instagram break of the year.

“With this sport it’s hard because you want to grow it, but when you get excited about it you’re also taking on other people’s expectations instead of focusing on yourself,” she said. “I went into this week by doing what makes me happy and taking it day-by-day, round-by-round.”

Both Akins and Edwards are headed to their first World Athletics Championships in Budapest on August 19-27. 

“It’s like up and down emotion for sure,” Edwards said. “I have moments of wanting to cry and moments where it just feels like a blur. It’s crazy.”

Joining the three will be reigning 800-meter world champion Athing Mu, who has a bye in the event. Mu also qualified for the 1,500 meters Saturday night. She has yet to decide if she will compete in both events, but she said the “800 meters is a go.”

Akins has been taking the season one step at a time and trying to be present in every moment.

“I wanted to give it my all here and not get distracted by things I can’t control down the line,” she said. “We’re going to take a nice mental break and then get back into it and train and try to get to the final in Budapest.”