Sage Hurta-Klecker: “It's important to set the bar high.”

Words by Laura Markwardt. Photography by Jerry Sun.

The 800m is neither a true sprint nor a distance race, and yet it’s both. To excel, one needs the speed of a sprinter, the endurance of a miler, and the tactical nous of a chess grandmaster. OAC athlete, Sage Hurta-Klecker, knows how to make the right moves.

“Running was just something that I was always exposed to,” says Sage, 26. Her mother ran cross-country and track at Cornell, where her father was also on the team. Being raised alongside her parents’ athletic schedule in New York, it’s no surprise that she followed in their lane. 

“From a young age, I just wanted to run around and do my own thing – I definitely wasn’t there for the competition. Actually, I thought I was going to be a swimmer. Then, when it got to the point where I had to put in the serious hours, I was like, this is not for me.”

Fast-forward to her collegiate years at The University of Colorado, Sage excelled in the steeplechase, 1500m and racing off the track [Sage is the four-time all-American NCAA champion in cross-country]. Now committed to a six-day-a-week training schedule with the OAC, it’s clear she’s not afraid of hard work: “This is my job, and my profession. These days, I thrive on having a plan for what’s happening in the weeks ahead.”

Sage is here for the competition now too: “My fastest 800m time was from last year when I ran at the Diamond League in Monaco [1:57:85]. I felt in great shape when I had a fast time [1:58:09] at the League in Poland this year as well.”

Despite success on the international stage, Sage still describes herself as a newcomer: “It’s kind of funny. I didn’t race this distance [800m] that much during college. I still feel relatively inexperienced, not in terms of the overall sport but at this level. You have to be quite a few races in before you know when you can push and when to hold back.”

How does a good 800m feel at a competitive pace? “It feels like you’re moving at a high speed, but it’s never that taxing – just relaxed and in control. Obviously, the first 200m or 400m sets you up for the second-half of the race, in terms of optimal positioning and how you’re feeling physiologically. There's a lot to balance, and the way everyone runs the two laps is a little different.”

That ‘everyone’ is the rest of the field, and they’re working just as hard to get out in front. The women’s 800m is super competitive and the talent is so deep in the US that earning a place on a national team is almost as challenging as making the championship podium. Tenacity keeps Sage on track: “There are times when I show up and think, I’m not feeling that great, but I'm going to keep fighting and get whatever I can out of this race.” 

Sometimes not making the championships [Sage placed fourth in this season’s US Outdoor Championships] creates opportunities in itself – like the chance to go for times in paced races like the Diamond League, and really see what you can do.

With start lines full of strong middle-distance runners, Sage isn’t short on contemporaries who know what it takes to get ahead: “It's important to set the bar high. Obviously, I want to feel satisfied with what I'm doing, but to see that horizon on the field and that there's so much more potential, is inspiring. It's way easier to do something when you see other women doing it – to know it’s possible to run 1:55 or whatever goal that you set for yourself.”

Sage creates opportunity by viewing pre-race nerves as fuel. “It's wrong to assume that going into a race, you're the only one who has any doubts,” she says. “Everyone has their anxieties about what might happen. I can't speak for all disciplines but I feel that at elite level, those doubts are what motivate you.”

There's opportunity in race strategy too. You see exceptional 800m athletes controlling access to the front position and leading the pack at their own pace to the win. We've seen others challenge this by surging down the back straight. Could there be an element of surprise in the women's field?

“When you're in the front, you're in a vulnerable position. You're blind to what’s happening behind you. But there are opportunities if you know how other athletes play their cards. You ask yourself whether you can match that – it makes it fun.”

As an OAC athlete, Sage has the unwavering support of her team – who are based at her favorite training location, Boulder, Colorado – both on and off the track. “A lot of us share great college team experiences, and it's really been helpful to be able to carry that through to the professional level. Everyone puts in the work together, and we're excited for each other’s success.”

Her biggest fan is fellow OAC teammate, distance runner and Olympian and also her husband, Joe Klecker: “Joe and I have a very strong respect for what each other do. Yes, our days are structured around running, but it's not the main topic of every conversation. I trust his viewpoint and advice on a lot of things. I can confide in Joe about racing and navigating the season. We understand each other.”

Head Coach, Dathan Ritzenhein, is at the helm of the OAC’s collective accomplishments. When it comes to this close dynamic and realizing their potential as a team, it takes more than a one-size-fits-all training plan to nurture success: “Some of the team dynamic is intangible, it’s more than just what gets written on paper,” Sage explains. “It’s about your relationship with your coach and how you show up with one another. The mental side of the sport is huge, and in some ways, still underrated.” 

As of this summer, the OAC welcomed new Assistant Coach, Kelsey Quinn, bringing another female viewpoint and voice to the team: “Kelsey’s super inspiring,” says Sage, “she has two young children, and yet she’s arrived full steam and she’s all in. I love that balance of having children and being successful in the competitive running world. That longevity inspires me. I also love it when female athletes use their platform to bridge a gap for others – like the activism of Allyson Felix – she’s just a superstar. I love to see women doing what they want and creating their own avenues for progress.”

What’s Sage’s avenue for progress right now? “Just to keep my mindset happy and positive. Being a professional athlete requires a lot more downtime than people may think and it’s part of the job.”

Downtime for Sage means reading, streaming a new series and hanging out with Joe and their dogs: “We’ve got a cockapoo and a cavapoo, Tucker and Minnie – we love them. They're at my parent’s place right now. They don’t run far or fast and they’re quite stubborn. Plus, it’s quite hot in Colorado at times and they can’t regulate their body temperature.” Sage smiles, “They keep us in the slow lane.”