INDIANAPOLIS -- Bettering the American and collegiate records in the men's 200*, Garrett Kaalund (San Antonio, TX/USATF Texas Southern) earned recognition as the 10th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2026.
Kaalund, a senior at USC, stormed to victory by .22 seconds at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas, winning the 200 in 19.95 to better the American and collegiate records of 20.02 that were set by Houston's Elijah Hall in 20.18. His performance was also the second fastest ever run indoors, behind only the world record of 19.92 by Namibia's Frankie Fredericks in 1996 at Lievin, France.
The 2023 Pan American U20 silver medalist in the 200, Kaalund attended Antonian Prep High School in San Antonio, where he won TAPPS state titles in the 200 and 400 and had bests of 20.66 and 46.88. He ran for Nebraska from 2023-24 before transferring to Southern Cal. He set his outdoor PB of 19.85 last year at the NCAA First Round meet and followed up with a bronze at the NCAA Championships in 19.96.
Other top performances from last week:
Jane Hedengren of BYU won the women's 3000 and 5000 at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships in Arkansas. Her 3000 time of 8:36.61 was the fourth fastest ever by a collegian and her 5000 time of 15:00.12 was the ninth fastest ever by a collegian.
Ja'Kobe Tharp of Auburn set a collegiate record in the men's 60 hurdles with a 7.32 at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships in Arkansas that moved him to No. 2 on the all-time U.S. performer list and No. 3 on the world all-time performer list.
Quincy Wilson broke his own high school boys' indoor 400 record with a 45.37 at the New Balance Indoor Nationals.
Katy Zang broke the high school girls' national indoor record for two miles with her 9:37.15 at the New Balance Indoor Nationals.
* – all American records are subject to verification by the USATF Records Committee.
Now in its 25th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
2026 Winners: January 15, Jonathan Simms; January 22, Michelle Rohl; January 29, Josh Hoey; February 5, Roisin Willis; February 12, Jordan Geist; February 19, Cole Hocker; February 26, Cynthia McNamee; March 5, Chase Jackson; March 12, Lauren Harris; March 19, Garrett Kaalund. We welcome your nominations!
To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to communications@usatf.org.
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Photo credit to USC Track & Field