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Final Day of the 2026 Nike Indoor Nationals concludes with thrilling competitionPublished by
Contact Information: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Final Day of the 2026 Nike Indoor Nationals concludes with thrilling competition New York City, NY - Sunday’s final day of competition at the Nike Indoor Nationals saw US #1’s solidify their ranking and others suffer upsets at the Nike Track and Field Center at the Armory. The girls’ 1 mile was the first track action of the day. US #6 Braelyn Combe (Corona, CA) used a 2:12.7 last 800 meters to defeat US #1 outdoor mile leader Ellery Lincoln (Forest Park TC, OR). For Combe, it was her second indoor race of the season where she has used her strong finish to dispatch all challengers. Her time of 4:38.18 and Lincoln’s time of 4:39.98 moved her to #3 and #10 in meet history. It was also the second time in meet history that two athletes dipped under the 4:40 barrier. Only Jane Hedengren's (Timpview, Provo, UT) and Katie Rainsberger's (Air Academy, Colorado Springs, CO) 4:26.14 in 2025 and 4:36.61 in 2016 are ahead of Combe. The boys' mile saw seven of the top ten fastest performances in meet history including a meet record of 4:00.66 by Marcelo Mantecon (Miami Havana, FL). Senior Wyland Obando (Long Beach, CA), the designated pacer, led the field through 5 laps before Caleb Ten Pas (XLR8 Iowa TC, IA) took over. That lead was short lived as Mantecon took the lead and began the long dash home. The ensuing two laps in 59.19 drew him clear of Ten Pas, but not sophomore Abdinasir Hassan (Great Strides TC, CO). The lanky Hassan who has only been running seriously for a year was added to the field the morning of the race and took full advantage of the opportunity. He chased Mantecon over the final 200 meters, but could not close the gap as Mantecon eased across the line for his fourth national title of the meet. That time broke Grant Fisher’s (Grand Blanc, MI) meet record of 4:03.54 set in 2015. Hassan also dipped under Fisher’s record with his 4:01.45. That set a sophomore class indoor record and also was the second fastest mile time in US high school history behind Rheinhardt Harrison’s (Nease, Ponte Vedra, FL) 4:01.34 outdoor sophomore best. Noah Strohman (Wichita Falls, TX) finished third in 4:04.88, Ten Pas finished fourth in 4:05.28, Andrew Beroset (McCallie, TN) finished fifth in 4:05.61, Paul Van Laningham (Union, KY) finished sixth in 4:05.70 and Quinn Sullivan finished seventh in 4:07.52. The field rewrote the meet's history by taking #1, #2, #4, #5,#7, #8, and #10 fastest times. Hurdle and sprint action took center stage following the miles. In the girls 60 meter hurdle finals, an anticipated matchup between US #2 Destiny Coleman (Woodlawn Elite TC, MD) and US #4 Jasmine Robinson (North Cobb, Kennesaw, GA) didn’t materialize. Robinson suffered a torn ACL in practice the week before NIN and though in attendance, was not able to compete. The Georgia signee will be unable to compete during the spring and faces a long term recovery. In her absence, Coleman won all of the rounds improving in each: 8.30 in the prelims; and 8.22 in the semis to set herself for a fast final. In the final, she ran away from the competition to win in a US #8 all time 8.12. The time moved her to US #1 and #6 in meet history. Senior Aaliyah Turpin (Smyrna, DE) took second in a US #5 8.22 with Nia Armstrong (Vast TC, FL) taking third in a US #6 8.30. In the boys’ 60 meter hurdles, US #2 Joshua Kai-Smith had the second fastest qualifier, 7.78, yielding to US #1 300 meter hurdler Andrew Jones’ (The Texas Collective TC, TX) 7.73. In the final though, Kai Smith held the edge over all five hurdles over the closely bunched field and pulled away on the stretch run in to win in a new personal best and US #6 all time 7.59. Jones took second by a thousandth of a second over junior Niyer Clayborn (Milwaukee Speed Academy, WI) who took third in the same time, 7.67. Kai Smith tied Grant Holloway (Grassfield, Chesapeake, VA), Chad Zallow (John F. Kennedy, Warren, OH) and Ayden Owens (North Allegheny, Wexford, PA) for the fourth fastest performance in meet history. In the girls 60 meter finals, Janessa Brown (Jackrabbit TC, GA) edged Shiasia Mitchell (Track Masterz, NC) and Aster Jones (Portland, OR) 7.35, 7.36 and 7.37 in one of the closest finishes in meet history. Brown’s previous best was a 7.59 and bettered the favorite Jones who came in with a US #5 7.31. Mitchell improved her previous best of 7.42. In the boys 60 meter finals, US #1 Dillon Mitchell (APXP, TX) continued his winning streak over the nation’s best sprinters taking the title in #4 fastest time in meet history. Behind him, Jake Odey-Jordan (Texas Titans Athletics, TX), US #3, nipped US #2 Chinwoke Onwuchekwa (APXP, TX) 6.67 to 6.68 to take second and third. Jordan Wells (Cypress, CA) finished fourth in 6.74 and Tate Taylor (Texas Titans Athletics, TX) finished fifth in 6.77. Early this season Mitchell claimed the Millrose Games title in 6.64 and finished seventh in the USATF Indoor Championships. In the prelims of those championships, he ran the US #1 the the US #2 all time 6.59. He finishes his indoor season with the #1, #3, #4, and #5 fastest times in the US this season. In the girls’ 200 meter championship final, US #2 Mariah Maxwell (APXP, TX) earned lane 5 with her 23.02 top qualifying time from the preliminaries. On her outside was freshman US #3 Melanie Doggett (Major Impact, GA) who ran her second best time of the season, 23.35, in qualifying. Mia was lined up in lane 3. The quick footed Doggett got out to a slight edge heading into the final turn. But then, Mariah went to work. She made up the stagger and pulled away towing her sister, Mia Maxwell (APXP, TX), with her. She came across in the US #4 all time 22.84 to upset her twin sister who was ranked US #1. Mia's time was 23.04. Mariah's time was a new US #1 and the second fastest in meet history behind Dana Wilson’s 22.81 from last year. Doggett, who set the freshman 200 meter indoor record of 23.05 earlier this season, finished third in 23.11 to move to #4 in meet history. The boys’ 200 meter featured the national record holder and this year’s US #2, Tate Taylor (Texas Texas Titans Athletics ,TX), US #4 Dillon Mitchell (APXP, TX), US #1 outdoors, Blake Hamilton (Avionics The Collective, TX) and unranked Jake Odey-Jordan (Texas Titans Athletics, TX) who is Taylor’s training partner and owned a lifetime indoor personal best of 20.66, but hadn’t run a 200 meters indoors this season. Odey-Jordan had the top seed after the preliminaries with his 20.87 qualifying time. Taylor was the only other sprinter to dip under 21 seconds with his 20.97. For the final, Taylor drew lane 6 with Odey-Jordan in lane 5 , Hamilton in lane 4 and Kenneth Ward (Pittsburg, CA) in lane 3. Odey-Jordan’s start was splendid and he quickly made up the stagger on Taylor. He was never headed as he powered to a US #9 all time 20.72. Hamilton caught an easing Taylor at the tape to take third in 21.05 - 21.07. Mitchell, winner of the second fastest heat, finished fourth in 21.09. In the only high school championship relay action Sunday, Club Athletics ( Washington, DC) and McCallie (Chattanooga, TN) took top honors in the girls’ and boys’ divisions. Club Athletics’ senior, Abby Anstett, fresh off her third place finish in the mile, got out to a 2.53 second lead on the first leg that no other team could make up. Ann Hodges, Helena Kelly and anchor Kieran Murray ran legs of 2:17.94, 2:20.67 and 2:13.29 to end with a 9:06.25 to 9:08.22 win over Bucks County TC (PA). The McCallie TC (TN) boys’ team led wire to wire to secure the win in a school record of 7:46.73 without distance ace Andrew Beroset. Matthew Gabbert’s 1:57.57 opening leg gave them the lead over Calvert Hall TC (MD). Luke Bowen kept the lead as a new challenger, Amity TC (CT) took second place and Dreamville TC (FL) moved into third place. with a 1:56.67. A 1:55.65 from Ian Jacobs increased their lead t0 2.983 seconds. Henry Webb’s 1:56.85 secured the win over Calvert Hall TC (MD) 7:46.73 to 7:48.48. The meet concluded with the State Distance Medley Relay and the line ups couldn’t have been better. In the girls’ division, California ran away with the competition. Chiara Dailey( La Jolla, CA) scorched a 3:30.22 1,200 meter opening leg to open up a 3.62 second gap over New York who led off with Zaria Hall. Isla Bulmer kept up the pressure with a 59.44 to keep the advantage. A 2:09.13 from Grace Smith and a 4:37.23 from mile champion Braelyn Combe brought them home in 11:16.02 for the inaugural event. The boys race was even better. Iowa fielded a dream team with Caleb Ten Pas and Quentin Nauman bringing the star power. Texas countered with their dream team that included top ranked middle distance runners Noah Strohman and Caden Leonard and top rate sprinter Joshua Shelton. Caleb Ten Pas opened with a barn burning 2:57.97 opening 1,200 meter leg to open up a 3.81 second lead over Texas who led off with Noah Strohman. Kolby Hodenfield held his own against Shelton with a 49.84 to 49.50 leg to keep the Texans at bay. Jack Meggison’s 1:55.13 nearly matched Colby Huntress’ 1:55.12 to set up the epic final leg. Quentin Nauman got out quickly in 56.65 to try and get away from 4:00.07 miler, Leonard. Leonard was more measured as he ran his opening leg of 58.13. Nauman’s quick early lap took its toll. He slowed to a 61.53 to hit the 800 meter in 1:58.18 and then followed with a 64.12. Leonard continued to chip away, throwing in a 61.11 to hit 800 meters in 1:59.24. Another 62.32 drew him closer with one lap to go. Nauman, sensing Leonard closing on him, reacted with a 31.03 that included a final of 29.62 to hold off Leonard who finished in a 59.06 and 28.92 final circuit. Iowa’s time of 9:46.23 was just enough to hold off Texas’ 10:02.77. The field events saw one US #1 cement her standing and two other US #1s suffer an upset. US #1 Mia Maxwell (APXP, TX) was undefeated coming into the triple jump final. Her opening season mark of 44 feet 6 inches nearly broke the high school record. She went on to win the Millrose Games with a 42 feet 6 inch which was US #15 all time. So the anticipation was high that she would scare or even break the national record in her final indoor meet of the season. Maxwell got off with a modest 40 feet 9 inch effort in the first round before fouling and getting a no distance mark on her second and third attempts. High jump champion Bailey Hensgens (St. Louis, MO) kept the competition honest. The junior came in with a lifetime best of 39 feet 4 ½ inches and matched that in the second round. In the third round she secured the last qualifying spot with a 40 feet ½ inch jump. In the fourth round, she leapt to a leading 41 feet 8 ¾ inch mark to set another personal best. Maxwell responded with a 41 feet 3 inch jump. Hensgens countered with another personal best of 42 feet ¾ inch. Maxwell bounced to a leading 42 feet 6 ¾ inch jump to conclude the fifth round. Hensgens was not done with her heroics. She bounded to another personal best of 42 feet 4 ¼ inch to place second. Maxwell’s final jump was a doozy: 43 feet ¼ inches. That was #6 in meet history. Hensgens moved to #13 performance in meet history and improved her personal best by 2 feet 8 ¼ inches. Kayden Hulet (Sparks, NV) east coast weight throw tour was a successful one. The US #2 threw a US leading and US #2 all time 86 feet 9.5 inch to win the New Balance National Indoor Championship in Boston, MA on Saturday and on Sunday won the NIN with a 85 feet ¼ inch bomb. In both instances, he beat US #1 Shamrock Thoun (Ocean State Hammerheads, RI) who took second in Boston, 80 feet 8 ¼ inches and fourth in New York City, 79 feet 4.40 inches. In New York, Ryan Evans (Ocean State Hammerheads, RI) finished second with a 80 feet 7.5 inch toss with Kenneth Ramdayal (New Hyde Park, NY) third with a 80 feet 6 ¼ inch heave. Hulet’s throws moved him to # 5 and #8 in meet history. In the pole vault, US #9 Izzy Robbins( Grand Haven, MI) had topped her seasonal best of 13 feet 3 ⅓ inches to 13 feet 4 ½ inches on Saturday at the New Balance National Indoor Championships to finish third. Sunday at NIN, she cleared 11 feet 8.5 inches while US #1 Addison Kleinke (Ultimate Speed TC, OR) passed. Three more second attempt clearances placed her in third behind Kleinke and Renata Bergstrom (Hustle TC, CO) who cleared in their first attempt. Bergstrom’s first time clearance at 13 feet ¼ inch put her into first. Robbins also cleared on her first attempt as Kleinke struggled clearing on her third and final three attempts. Bergstrom couldn’t get over the next bar and Robbins was in the driver’s seat with her second attempt clearance at 13 feet 4 ¼ inches. A third attempt clearance at 13 feet 8 ¼ inches won the title for Robbins as Kleinke failed to clear on her three attempts. Robbins passed to 14 feet 1 ¾ inches, but failed to clear. Her performance was the 12th best in meet history. Full results of all four days of competition can be found HERE ### |
