Brackins Jr. & DeFrand Named Big Ten Track Athletes Of The Championships

USC's Johnny Brackins Jr. and Dajaz DeFrand, who both won two events and set meet records at the conference championships, were named the Men's and Women's Track Athlete of the Big Ten Indoor Championships, as voted upon by league coaches and announced today (March 5). Brackins Jr. and Yemi John were also named Big Ten Indoor Sportsmanship honorees, for the Indoor Track and Field Championships which were held Feb. 28-March 1 in Indianapolis, Ind. The Sportsmanship honorees were those who distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior and they are now candidates for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award at the end of the academic year.

The senior Brackins Jr. won the men's 60m hurdles title with a meet-record time of 7.49 on March 1, bettering the conference record of 7.53 which he set in the first round the previous day. The native of Kansas City, Mo. also won the Big Ten long jump title on Feb. 28 with a jump of 26-2.75 (7.99m). Brackins Jr. won the 2025 USATF Indoor Championships 60m hurdles title with a school-record time of 7.43 on Feb. 22. That time made him the No. 4 all-time men's collegiate performer in the hurdles. He is also the USC all-time indoor long jump leader with his personal-best jump of 27-0.00 (8.23m), set in winning the 2024 USATF Indoor Championships long jump title.

USC junior transfer sprinter DeFrand won the women's 60m and 200m dash titles on March 1. DeFrand won the 60m with a PR and meet-record time of 7.10. The native of Aurora, Colo. broke the original Big Ten Indoor Championships record of 7.18 with her first-round time of 7.15. DeFrand now ranks fourth on the USC all-time women's 60m dash list. She became a two-time Big Ten title-winner when she won the 200m race with a PR of 22.62. That time moved her to second on the USC all-time indoor 200m list.

The junior John placed second in the women's 400m with a season-best time of 51.76. John ranks fifth on USC's all-time indoor women's 400m list with a time of 51.74. John, a native of East London in the U.K., also ran the leadoff leg for USC's women's 4x400m relay which won the conference title with a meet-record time of 3:29.97.

The three student-athletes and the USC track and field team will next be in action at the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships to be held at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Va. from March 14-15.

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Players Mentioned

Johnny Brackins Jr.

Dajaz DeFrand

Yemi John