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Stan Becton | krikya8vip.com | April 20, 2026

20 midseason superlatives for the outdoor track and field season

NCAA track championship finishes that keep getting more dramatic

We're near the midpoint in men's and women's outdoor track and field, and the season is red hot with championships rapidly approaching.

Let's hand out 10 midseason superlatives for the outdoor season to some of the nation's top performers in 2026.

Best record-breaking performance

Men: Simeon Birnbaum, Oregon

Oregon’s Simeon Birnbaum gets the nod for best record-breaking performance over New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel because this is Birnbaum’s first time breaking a collegiate record. It wasn’t expected from the Oregon Duck, especially when you consider Birnbaum’s 1500m PR entering the 2026 outdoor season was 3:37.02 — over five seconds slower than his 3:31.69 ran to set the collegiate record.

Women: Shawnti Jackson, LSU

Three women have broken collegiate records this year: LSU’s Shawnti Jackson, BYU’s Jane Hedengren and Washington’s Hana Moll. Of those three women, Jackson is the biggest surprise to break a record. 

Jackson didn’t run during the indoor season while Hedengren and Moll both won NCAA indoor titles. Jackson opening her outdoor season with a collegiate record 35.89-second finish in the 300 meters earns her this superlative.

RECORD TRACKER: Every track and field record broken in 2026

Best non-collegiate record individual performance

Men: Geoffrey Kirwa, Louisville

Louisville’s Georffrey Kirwa ran 8:08.10 in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the Bryan Clay Invitational. That’s the second-fastest time in collegiate history, only 2.70 seconds behind Henry Rono. Henry Rono’s record has stood since May 13, 1978 — 48 years ago. 

Women: Adaejah Hodge, Georgia

10.77 100 meters with only +1.7 wind. That’s how fast Georgia redshirt freshman Adaejah Hodge ran at the Tom Jones Memorial. That time trails only LSU’s Sha’Carri Richardshon’s collegiate record of 10.75 in 2019.

AWARDS: The 2026 Bowerman Watch List for men's and women's NCAA track and field

Bowerman front-runner

Men: Habtom Samuel, New Mexico

The men’s Bowerman is shaping up to be a close race. Auburn’s Ja’Kobe Tharp was a finalist last year, set the 60 hurdles collegiate record and won the 60 hurdles title. NAU’s Colin Sahlman set an 800 meter collegiate record and won the 3000 meter indoor title. Auburn’s Kanyinsola Ajayi and USC’s Garrett Kaalund each set collegiate records and won indoor titles in the 60 meters and 200 meters, respectively.

Yet, my current front runner doesn’t come from that group. Instead, it’s New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel. Samuel has two collegiate records across both the indoor and outdoors seasons, plus an indoor title.

If the season ended today, Samuel would be my clear favorite to win both the 5K and 10K. Tharp has real competition in Samford’s Bradley Franklin, Ajayi and Kaalund have to make it out of the sprint gauntlet and we don’t know what event Sahlman will run at nationals given his versatility.

Samuel’s the safest pick here.  

Women: Jane Hedengren, BYU

Hedengren is on pace to have the second-greatest season of any women’s distance runner in collegiate history — and she’s only a freshman. That’s not hyperbole. She’s already set collegiate records in the 10K and 5K during this outdoor season. That follows an indoor 5K record and the 3K and 5K indoor titles. While the Bowerman doesn’t include cross country honors, she finished second there, too.

To put Hedengren in historical context, only five women have ever won four or more distance running titles in the same academic year in NCAA history. Of those five, only Florida’s Parker Valby’s five collegiate records rank more than the three Hedengren already has. With a strong performance in Eugene, Hedengren can etch her name in history.

HISTORIC: The 5 most dominant women’s distance running seasons in NCAA history

Outdoor Rookie of the Year

Men: Jonathan Simms, Georgia

Jonathan Simms has shown off his versatility during this outdoor season. He started at the Battle of the Bayou with a 44.76-second finish in the 400 meters that places him No. 3 nationally in the event. Then at Georgia’s first home track meet at its new facility, Simms ran 20.37 (+2.2) in the 200 meters.

However, what secured Simms this superlative was his split on Georgia’s collegiate-leading 4x400 meter relay. Simms ran the third leg in 43.98, good for the second fastest third-leg 4x4 split in collegiate history.

Women: Jane Hedengren, BYU

Jane Hedengren has two outdoor collegiate records to her name as a freshman. That earns her this superlative.

MORE MEETS: Penn Relays | Texas Relays | Florida Relays

Lived-up-to-the-hype award

Men: Jelani Watkins, Arkansas

Jelani Watkins transferred to Arkansas this offseason with some big shoes to fill — the shoes of Bowerman Award winner Jordan Anthony. Even though replacing Anthony wasn’t entirely thrust upon the shoulders of Watkins, there were two many similarities for comparisons to not be drawn.

Watkins left an SEC school, LSU, the same way Anthony left Kentucky. Watkins and Anthony both played football. Watkins had an NCAA championship podium finish in the sprints with a third-place finish in the 100 meters the same way Anthony has a podium, second-place finish in the 60 meters the year before transferring. Anthony had 99 speed in EA College Football 26. Watkins had a 98 speed rating.

That’s a lot to live up to.

However, Watkins has lived up to the billing, especially with a recent 9.82 finish (+2.8) in the 100 meters and a 20.35 finish (+1.6) in the 200 meters at Mt. SAC Relays for his season openers. Both times are faster than what Anthony ran in his outdoor season openers at the same meet just a year ago.

Women: Akala Garrett, South Carolina

Akala Garrett got overshadowed at last year’s outdoor championships in the 400 meter hurdles when she finished in second place because winner Savannah Sutherland broke Sydney McLaughlin’s record. Yet in that race, Garrett ran 54.66 — a season’s best.

Fast forward to 2026 and Garrett transferred from Texas to South Carolina. Garrett ran 54.22 and 54.46 for the Gamecocks at two meets, both in Gainesville. Garrett has the two fastest times any collegian has run across 400 hurdles this season. It’s safe to say the top returning finisher from last year’s 400 hurdles has lived up to the hype.

CATCH UP NOW: An early-season recap of the 2026 DI outdoor track and field season

Ol' reliable award

Men: Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan, Ole Miss

Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan has thrown in four outdoor meets in five weeks. At every meet, he’s thrown the shot put at least 20.42 meters. In fact, he’s at least 20 meters — a distance that only three other collegians have reached this season — on 10 of his 11 non-fouled throws this season. Six of those 10 throws have been farther than No. 2 shot put mark nationally of 20.39 meters. That means 42 percent of the time, Robinson-O’Hagan is launching the shot put 20 meters or more.

Robinson-O’Hagan has been just as consistent in the hammer throw, also competing at four meets. He opened the season with a PR 77.62m throw and hasn’t thrown shorter than 72.17m at a meet this season. His PR is the third-best hammer throw of the season from any athlete. His 11 hammer throws beyond 72 meters is tied for the NCAA lead for the most of any thrower this season and more than the nation’s top two throwers combined.

Robinson-O’Hagan has been reliable in two different events to earn this superlative.

Women: Axelina Johansson, Nebraska

In four of Axelina Johansson’s last five meets where she finished the shot put, she’s thrown the shot put beyond 19 meters. That includes her outdoor opener at the Big Red Classic where she threw beyond 19 meters on three attempts, closing with an NCAA-leading 19.62m throw.

Dating back to the indoor season, 57 percent of Johansson's shot put attempts have surpassed 19 meters.

SCHEDULE: Key meets for the 2026 outdoor track and field season

Best sprinter

Men: Garrett Kaalund, Southern California

If I had to pick anyone to double in the 100 and 200 meters this year, it would be USC’s Garrett Kaalund. Kaalund is the indoor 200 meter record holder and leads the nation with his 20.10 (+2.7) 200 meters outdoors. His 9.90 (+2.8) 100 meters at Mt. SAC Relays makes him the only collegian with two top-three sprint times all-conditions. 

Women: Adaejah Hodge, Georgia

Hodge leads all NCAA women with a 10.77 (+1.7) 100 meters and a 22.10 (+1.9) 200 meters to earn the top sprinter nod at the midseason mark.

Best mid-distance runner

Men: Colin Sahlman, Northern Arizona

Northern Arizona’s Colin Sahlman owns the fastest 800 meter time and the seventh-fastest 1500 meter time in the country. He even has the No. 11 5000 meter time nationally. Sahlman’s 1:44.42 800 meter finish makes him the seventh-fastest collegian all-time.

Women: Salma Elbadra, South Carolina

Even without running sub-two minutes in the 800 meters this season, South Carolina’s Salma Elbadra is my top women’s mid-distance runner this year. Elbadra might not have broken two minutes yet this season, but she’s right on the cusp with the NCAA’s No. 6 800 meter time of 2:00.62. 

What pushes Elbadra to the top of this superlative is her No. 2 1500 meter time in the NCAA. Elbadra’s 4:02.63 finish at the Wake Forest Invitational makes her the only mid-distance runner with top six national times in the 800 and 1500 meters.

Best distance runner

Men: Habtom Samuel, New Mexico

Habtom Samuel set a 5000 meter collegiate record with a 13:03.47 finish at the Bryan Clay Invitational. He also has the No. 2 time in the 10K from the Stanford Invitational earlier this month. There hasn’t been a better distance runner this season than Samuel.

Women: Jane Hedengren, BYU

Hedengren has already set collegiate records in the 10K and 5K during this outdoor season. She the only choice for this superlative

Best thrower

Men: Texas Tanner, Air Force

Texas Tanner leads the nation in the discus (66.30m) and the hammer throw (78.87m). If that wasn’t impressive enough, his 78.87 meter hammer throw is the eighth-furthest in collegiate history, making him the No. 2 all-time performer behind USC great Balázs Kiss. Tanner has the best mark in the hammer since Kiss was breaking records in the mid-90s.

Women: Anthonett Nabwe, Minnesota

Anthonett Nabwe’s 75.72 meter hammer throw at the Tom Jones Memorial meet trails only the legendary Camryn Rogers atop the all-time collegiate record book. Nabwe’s 59.58m discus throw also ranks No. 5 nationally. Her 16.58m shot put ranks No. 22 nationally, meaning in three different throwing events, Nabwe would qualify for NCAA first round meets at the midseason mark.

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The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.

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Division I
Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships
June 10-13, 2026
Hayward Field | Eugene, OR