Prior to racing Wanamaker Mile at NYRR Millrose Games in two weeks, Samford star will get a test run at The Armory in first indoor mile since winning 2017 NCAA title

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Before her biggest opportunity to race in the Big Apple, Karisa Nelson is looking for a dress rehearsal Saturday at The Armory in New York City.

Nelson, a fifth-year senior at Samford, will compete in the indoor mile for the first time since she captured the 2017 NCAA Division 1 title when she races at 12:18 p.m. EST against a field of professionals and fellow collegiate athletes at the Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia Challenge.

LIVE WEBCAST INFO

“I’m really excited because I’ve never been to New York and I’ve never been to The Armory, so it’s going to be great,” said Nelson, who boasts a personal best of 4 minutes, 31.24 seconds in the indoor mile.

“I missed going last year for the Millrose Games, so I’m really happy that I get to go twice this season and so are my parents. Any excuse they can find to go to New York, they’ll be there.”

Nelson suffered a metatarsal fracture in her right foot during a workout a year ago, resulting in her not being able to compete in the Wanamaker Mile at the NYRR Millrose Games. It also didn’t allow Nelson to defend her NCAA indoor title and forced her to medically redshirt the outdoor season as well.

After running in one cross country race in September, Nelson finally returned to track competition Jan. 11, clocking 9:22.32 to win the 3,000 meters at the UAB Blazer Invitational.

Nelson followed that effort by winning the 800 meters Jan. 18 in 2:05.47 at the Samford Invite.

But now comes the most significant test of her comeback season, before Nelson races Feb. 9 in the Wanamaker Mile, also at The Armory.

“I’m going straight into the fire,” Nelson said. “These opportunities don’t come around very often and I want to prove to everyone that I belong.”

Nelson will be joined by fellow collegiate entries Nicole Hutchinson and Rachel McArthur of Villanova, along with NAIA standout Anna Shields of Point Park University.

The list of American professionals includes HOKA ONE ONE New Jersey New York Track Club members Megan Mansy, Danielle Aragon, Heather Wilson and Jamie Morrissey. Lauren Paquette, Stephanie Herrick, Lianne Farber, Shannon Osika and Dana Giordano are also scheduled to compete.

“To finally be able to experience such a big professional indoor race is going to be so much fun,” Nelson said. “I’m pretty much back now to how I was training last year before the injury, so that’s nice. It’s going to be a good chance for me to find out exactly where I’m at before Millrose.”

Nelson has previous experience racing against professional athletes outdoors, placing second in the fastest section of the 1,500 meters in a personal-best 4:10.91 at the 2017 Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford, before finishing 17th at the USATF Outdoor Championships later that year in Sacramento.