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≡ USATF INDOOR NATIONALS ≡
The 2026 USA Track & Field Indoor National Championships – first held in New York in 1906 – got going on Saturday in Staten Island, New York, also selecting the American team for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland.
One of the most anticipated events Saturday was the men’s 3,000 m, with World 5,000 m champion Cole Hocker in excellent form and he went to the front right away with Cooper Teare and 2024 World Indoor runner-up Yared Nuguse.
Hocker passed 1,500 m in 3:58.57, ahead of Teare (3:58.77). Olympic steepler Matthew Wilkinson took over at 1,800 m and then Nuguse went to the front at 2,400 m, with Paris Olympian Nico Young close, and then Young went to the front at the bell.
Young, Hocker and Nuguse were fighting for the win and it was Hocker, with his patented late rush, who got to the line for the win in a tactically-satisfying 7:39.25, just ahead of Nuguse (7:39.28) and Young at 7:39.29. Morgan Beadlescomb was fourth at 7:40.83 with a hard last lap, moving up from seventh.
It’s Hocker’s second 3,000 m national indoor title, also in 2022; he doubled that year in the 1,500 m and he will try for another double on Sunday.
There were also fireworks in the women’s Shot. Two-time World Champion Chase Jackson had been quiet indoors, competing in just one meet. But she was ready Saturday, unleashing a huge throw of 20.44 m (67-0 3/4) in round five to win and extend her own American Record of 20.24 m (66-5) from 2025. It moves Jackson to no. 2 on the 2026 world list.
Behind her was Abria Smith with a lifetime best of 19.23 m (63-1 3/4) for second, over Jaida Ross’s 18.43 m (60-5 3/4).
Lots more on Saturday:
● Men/60 m hurdles: World leader Trey Cunningham led the qualifiers at 7.38, ahead of Dylan Beard (7.47), now equal-8th on the world list for 2026.
Beard – sixth in 2025 – didn’t miss the opportunity in the final, edging Cunningham, 7.37 to 7.40, to tie for the world lead and now equal-7th all-time. Jamal Britt was third in 7.46.
● Men/5,000 m Walk: Nick Christie was an easy winner in 19:13.37, ahead of Jordan Crawford (21:15.02). For Christie, it’s his seventh indoor national title sine 2015; all of the others were at 3,000 m. He’s now no. 5 on the world list for 2026.
(Meanwhile, at the Italian indoor championships, Francesco Fortunato crushed the world 5,000 m walk record in 17:54.48, obliterating Russian Mikhail Shchennikov‘s 1995 mark of 18:07.08.)
● Men/Vault: Zach Bradford, a two-time World Champs team member, equaled his seasonal best of 5.90 m (19-4 1/4) and was the only one to clear to win his first national title. American record holder KC Lightfoot cleared 5.85 m (19-2 1/4) for second and defending champion Chris Nilsen cleared 5.80 m (19-0 1/4).
Bradford wasn’t done and moved the bar to 6.01 m (19-8 1/2) and cleared on his second try for a lifetime best! He’s the 19th man to clear 6 m indoors and the fifth American. He’s now equal-8th all-time, and equal-second all-time U.S. with Sam Kendricks.
● Men/Triple Jump: Russell Robinson, second last year, got to the lead early at 16.15 m (53-0) in the first round and improved to 16.59 m (54-5 1/4) in round three. Defending champ James Carter was the only other jumper to reach 16 m – in round five – and was second at 16.24 m (53-3 1/2) in the sixth round.
● Men/Weight: Isaiah Rogers won his first national Weight title with his fifth-round throw of 23.29 m (76-5), then improved to 23.41 m (76-9 3/4) on his final toss. Konner Wood was second, with a final-round throw of 22.92 m (75-2 1/2).
● Women/3,000 m: A spirited battle between Emily Mackay and two-time champion Elle St. Pierre came down to the final lap and Mackay – third in this race in 2023 – got her first national title in a meet record of 8:30.01 to 8:31.07 for St. Pierre. Margot Appleton was a distant third in 8:41.41. Mackay moves to sixth on the 2026 world indoor list with her time; St. Pierre has already run faster.
● Women/60 m hurdles: Alia Armstrong, fourth last year, led the qualifiers at 7.90, with heptathlon World Champion Anna Hall also making it to the final (which she skipped).
Armstrong was in lane four for the final, with 2023 winner Alaysha Johnson and two-time winner Gabbi Cunningham to her right. Johnson was disqualified for a false start and on the second try, Armstrong came through with the win in 7.82, cleaning ahead of Danae Dyer (7.92) and Amber Hughes (7.98). Cunningham finished fourth (8.01).
Armstrong moved to equal-5th on the 2026 world list.
● Women/5,000 m Walk: Lauren Harris, the defending champion from 2025 (3,000 m) won by more than a minute in 22:14.69, a lifetime best, ahead of eight-time national indoor winner Maria Michta-Coffey (23:30.42).
● Women/High Jump: Last year’s runner-up, Charity Hufnagel equaled her lifetime best at 1.96 m (6-5) on her third attempt won over Vashti Cunningham (1.93 m/6-4), who had won the prior nine U.S. indoor titles! World Hep Champion Hall took third at 1.90 m (6-2 3/4).
● Women/Long Jump: Olympic bronzer Jasmine Moore took the lead at 6.69 m (21-11 1/2), then extended at 6.86 m (22-6 1/4) in round two, with 2025 World Indoor Champion Claire Bryant into second at 6.68 m (21-11).
Defending champ Monae Nichols, the 2024 World Indoor silver medalist, moved into second place in round four at 6.72 m (22-0 3/4) and equaled that mark in the sixth round. Bryant stayed third and improved to 6.69 m (21-11 1/2) in round six. But no one could touch Moore, who won her first national indoor title.
In the qualifying rounds:
● Men/400 m: Khaleb McRae, who set the “world record” in the event at 44.52 earlier in February, led all qualifiers at 45.63, with Chris Robinson at 45.73, the only ones under 46 seconds.
● Men/800 m: Cooper Lutkenhaus led the qualifiers at 1:47.00 to win heat three, ahead of Sean Dolan (1:47.17).
● Women/400 m: Paris Peoples won heat four with the fastest qualifying mark of 52.18 and Rosey Effiong took heat one in 52.20.
● Women/800 m: Meghan Hunter was the fastest qualifier at 2:00.56 from heat one and the top five were bunched from 2:00.56 to 2:01.24.
The meet concludes on Sunday and will be televised by NBC from 1-3 p.m. Eastern time.
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