USC Track and Field Wins Eight Events in Season Opener

Friday, January 16

Spokane, Wash.

USC

Spokane Sports Showcase

USC Track and Field Wins Eight Events in Season Opener

January 16, 2026 | Track & Field

The Trojans swept both 300m and 800m races

SPOKANE, Wash. – The USC Track and Field team opened the 2026 indoor season at the Spokane Showcase on Friday winning eight events. The Trojans came out on top in the women's 60m, women's 300m, men's 300m, women's 800, men's 800m, women's shot put, men's long jump and men's high jump.

Today was a great opportunity with it being our season opener, said Director of Track and Field Quincy Watts. We're very excited about the performances. The coaches will go back, take a look at what we did well and what we can improve. That's what this meet is for and we're looking forward to being a little sharper and having a full team at Texas Tech.

Garrett Kaalund had the standout performance of the day on the men's side, tying the second-fastest time in the men's 300m recorded in the NCAA all-time. William Jones carried the momentum in the 600m with a first place finish and a new personal record of 1:15.19.

Madison Whyte brought the heat on the women's side in the 300m with a first place finish and an all-time top-8 time in the NCAA recording a PR of 36.33. In the women's 60m, all Trojans advanced to the finals where they occupied seven of eight lanes. Reigning national champion Dajaz DeFrand led the sweep with a time of 7.16. Christine M. Mallard came in second with a PR of 7.27, and Mia Brahe-Pedersen returned from injury in a stellar time of 7.29 to place third.

All three Women of Troy advanced to the women's 60m hurdle finals to start the day. Asjah Atkinson took a PR in prelims with a time of 8.19 in her Trojan debut. Nonah Waldron led the Trojans in the final coming in fourth in 8.34. Also making her debut was Anisa Bowen-Fontenot running 8.49.
Avery Lewis took second place in long jump going 5.99m in her fifth attempt. Ahnyx Bush started the season with a jump of 5.60m for sixth place.
Cordial Vann achieved first place in his collegiate debut with a jump of 7.53m.
Along with Defrand, Mallard and Brahe-Pedersen sweeping the women's 60m, Brianna Selby took fourth place in 7.30, Rachael Uvieghara was fifth in 7.36 and Olivia Pace came in seventh in 7.45.
Alongside Kaalund's stellar performance in the 300m was Jack Stadlman making his collegiate debut at 32.74 to come in third. Jaelen Knox and Nickolas Miller took 4th and 6th, respectively, in 33.57 and 34.16.
Both 800m races were Trojan wins by a clear margin. Oluwatosin Awoleye ran 2:08.71, currently standing at 14th in NCAA for the season. Chase McCallum ran a time of 1:53.82 on the men's side.
Over at women's shot put, Ashley Erasmus, coming off her World Championships debut, placed first with a throw of 16.94m.
Jada Foreman placed second in women's triple jump achieving a distance of 12.24m.
Jacob Andrews ran for a fifth place finish in the men's 200m with a time of 21.67.
Emmett Mack debuted for the Trojans in the 400m with a bronze medal finish and a time of 48.71.
Elias Gerald won the men's high jump at a height of 2.14m to kick off his senior year on top.
In the men's shot put, Kaden Garland threw 17.03m to start his sophomore year.
Gus Armstrong also made his collegiate debut alongside Jones in the 600m, running a time of 1:21.87.

The Trojans return to the track on Friday at the Red Raider Invite hosted by Texas Tech. Season updates and live results are available on Instagram and X @usc_track_field.