Wilma Nielsen Wins the PRE Classic 1500m in Her Professional Debut
Wilma Nielsen ran a season's best of 4:05.60 to win her professional debut at the Prefontaine Classic.
Video Transcript
Here with Wilma Nielsen after winning that 1500 meter.
Yeah, I'm gonna set it to- Congratulations just on everything- Yeah, there it is just so far.
Just what was going through your mind, especially as Stafford was out there really fast, and what the final, like, 400 meter you and Whitaker really started closing as fast as you can.
What was going through your mind?
Yeah, I kind of thought, like, the race got away from us, like, when she had, like, almost 20 meters on us.
So I kind of, like, "Hey, now we go for a second," but when Julia went, like, we got closer to, like, Lucia, which was really fun, and then just tried to hold on to Juliet.
And then I kind of saw an opportunity with, like, the 50 to go, so special winning here as a Duck.
What were the nerves like going into, like, your first- Yeah pro race, or were the nerves not even existent because this is your home track?
No, I was really nervous, like, like being, like, the first race as a pro, like, I didn't know how it was gonna feel.
But, yeah, I was nervous.
Like, you want to represent, like, Nike good and yourself good, so I'm really happy.
Like, I got to represent me, like, at Nike and as a Duck here.
Being able to win in this type of field, that was- Yeah.
There were so many of y'all out there.
Yeah.
It was stacked as well.
It's a good heat.
How much does that mean to you at this point in your season?
No, it's really, like, it gave me a lot of confidence.
Like, now being a pro, like, it's more about, like, winning and, like, racing good, so I'm really happy.
I, like, got to, like It's a really strong field, so it feels great, like, winning as a, like, the first race as a pro.
It gives me a lot of confidence, like, going into the next part of the season and Euros and everything.
As you're in this new phase in your track and just running career- Yeah in total, what's the thing that the sport's really teaching you right now?
Everyone else started moving as well, and it's, like, hard to pass people when they're so good, right?
I feel like- Yeah, I feel similarly it's, like, more, like, transitioning from college is, like, different.
Like, in college, like, everything, it feels more safe.
Like, you have, like, your group, and it's more, like, like more in a group.
Like, I still have, like, my training partners, everything, but it just feels, like, more real now.
Like, I'm running for, like, Nike.
That's always been the dream, so yeah, I'm just happy.
I, like- Good.
You stick to your time card or do you- get to win.
Like, that's, like, the fun part and, yeah, I don't know, it's just really exciting, the next part of my career.
When did the dream of, like, being a professional athlete, like, start for you, and when did it- Yeah I know it feels real now, but when did it start feeling real, like a real possibility?
I feel like when I Like, I guess, like, it gotten more and more real, like, last year when I won the title, definitely, like, new.
But since coming to college I always, like, dreamed of becoming a pro.
But, like, you never know if you can get, like, a good enough, like, deal to, like, do full time, so I'm really grateful that, like, Nike believes in me enough to, like, give me a good deal so I can, like, this is my job now.
Like, being an athlete, that's, like, so cool.
Like, this is what I love, so.
There you go.
Congratulations, Wilma.
Thank you.
And best of luck rest of the year.
Thank you.
