Friday, February 28
Indianapolis, Ind.
TBA
USC
vs
Big Ten Indoor Championships
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Jumps/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Distances
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Hurdles & Jumps
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Jumps/Multis
/ Track & Field
Distances
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & FieldSprints
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
USC T&F Ready For First Big Ten Indoor Championships
February 26, 2025 | Track & Field
Men's team ranked No.2, women's team ranked No. 11
THIS WEEK:   The USC Track and Field team will compete this weekend at its first Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Championships to be held at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion in Indianapolis, Ind. on Feb. 28-March 1. The Trojans are sending 36 members, 18 men and 18 women, to the two-day competition. The men's team is currently ranked No. 2 and the women's team is ranked No. 11.
BIG TEN INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS: Â USC, Oregon, UCLA and Washington will be competing in their first Big Ten Indoor Championships. Â Five different schools on both the men's and women's sides have won the Big Ten team title in the last decade. Â The 2024 women's team winner was Illinois and the men's team champion was Wisconsin, its second consecutive team title. Â The Pac-12 did not have an indoor championships and some of the teams competed in the MPSF Indoor Championships over the years.
USC ATHLETES TRAVELING TO BIG TENs:Â
Men: Â Jacob Andrews, Taylor Banks, Johnnie Blockburger, Johnny Brackins Jr., Nathan Cumberbatch, Shaiquan Dunn, Elias Gerald, William Jones, Garrett Kaalund, Jaelen Knox, Jazonte Levan, Yougendy Mauricette, Edward Nketia, Brady Palen, Nikolaos Polychroniou, JC Stevenson, Max Thomas and Travis Williams.Â
Women: Mia Brahe-Pedersen, Jassani Carter, Takiya Cenci, Dajaz DeFrand, Ashley Erasmus, Yemi John, Falyn Lott, Gigi Maccagnini, Christine M. Mallard, Samirah Moody, Temi Ojora, Olivia Pace, Lauren Reed, Maira Scott, Brianna Selby, Grace Smith, Nonah Waldron and Madison Whyte.
TOP 20 TROJANS:  The Trojans have 24 times or marks which rank among the top 20 on the current NCAA descending order list in a championships event: Men: Jacob Andrews (400m - 7th), Johnnie Blockburger (200m – 4th, 400m - 4th), Johnny Brackins Jr. (60m H – 1st, LJ - T-7th), Elias Gerald (HJ - T-9th), William Jones (400m - 9th), JC Stevenson (LJ – 1st, 60m - T-2nd), Max Thomas (60m – T-4th, 200m - 8th), Travis Williams (60m - T-12th) and 4x400m - T-4th.  Women:  Jassani Carter (60m - T-18th, 200m - 10th), Dajaz DeFrand (60m – T-9th), Yemi John (400m - 19th), Samirah Moody (60m – 7th, 200m - 19th), Temi Ojora (TJ - 6th), Nonah Waldron (60m H - T-13th), Madison Whyte (200m - 9th, 400m - 6th) and 4x400m (7th).
ANOTHER MEET, ANOTHER RECORD: Â A USC athlete has set or tied a school record in seven consecutive meets, dating back to the 2024 NCAA West Preliminary Rounds: NCAA West Prelims (Temi Ojora - WLJ), NCAA Championships (Jasmine Jones - W-400m H), Spokane Sports Showcase (Johnny Brackins Jr. - M-60m H), Red Raider Invite (JC Stevenson - M-60m, William Jones - M-600y, Yemi John - W-600y), Collegiate Classic (Falyn Lott - Freshman pentathlon record), Tiger Paw Invitational (Brackins Jr. - M-60m H) and USATF Indoors (M-60m H, USC & Big Ten record).
LAST SEASON: The USC men's team tied for seventh and the Trojan women's team tied for eighth at the 2024 NCAA Indoor T&F Championships.
RETURNING INDOOR ALL-AMERICANS: Trojans on the 2025 USC track and field team which earned 2024 Indoor All-America honors are Jacob Andrews (7th, M-4x400m), Johnnie Blockburger (7th, M-4x400m), Johnny Brackins Jr. (2nd, M-60m H, 4th, M-LJ), Yemi John (6th, W-400m, 2nd, W-4x400m), William Jones (5th, M-400m, 7th, M-4x400m), Temi Ojora (8th, W-TJ), Madison Whyte (2nd, W-4x400m) and Travis Williams (5th, M-60m).
DYNAMIC DUO: Â Trojan juniors JC Stevenson and Max Thomas currently rank tied for No.2 and tied for No. 4 on the NCAA descending order list in the 60m dash. Â Stevenson matched the USC 60m record with a time of 6.50 at the Red Raider Invite on Jan. 24 and Thomas ran the fourth-fastest time in school history of 6.53 at the Spokane Sports Showcase on Jan. 17. Â Currently their respective times rank tied for No. 4 and tied for No. 14 in the world. Â
BRACKINS JR. HURDLES INTO RECORD BOOKS AT USATFs:  Johnny Brackins Jr. placed third in the 60m H at the USATF Indoor Championships on Feb. 22 with a PR, USC-record, Big Ten-record and NCAA-leading time of 7.43. He also advanced to the final earlier in the day with a PR of 7.44.  The previous Big Ten record was 7.47 set by Wisconsin's Reggie Torian in 1997.  Brackins Jr. becomes the fourth-fastest collegiate 60m hurdler of all-time, trailing only Grant Holloway (7.35), Trey Cunningham (7.38) and Daniel Roberts (7.41). His 7.43 time is the fastest 60m hurdles time by a college athlete since Cunningham clocked 7.38 on March 12, 2022. Â
FOLLOW THE TROJANS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Â Keep up with everything USC track & field this year by following @USC_Track_Field on Instagram, X and TikTok.
THE NEW GUYS:Â The USC track and field program added a pair of Nebraska transfer this semester in Garrett Kaalund and Brithton Senior. Â The junior sprinter Kaalund has bests of 10.51 in the 100m, 20.25 in the 200m and 46.88 in the 400m. Â He is the Nebraska school record-holder in the 200m dash. Â The senior hurdler Senior has personal bests of 7.66 in the 60m hurdles, 13.54 in the 110m hurdles and 53.16 in the 400m hurdles.
USC NOMINATES MOODY AND BROCK FOR JACKIE ROBINSON AWARD:Â Sprinters Samirah Moody and Bryce Brock were nominated by USC for the Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award. Â The Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award was created to recognize Big Ten student-athletes who demonstrate Jackie Robinson's core values of "Jackie's nine" of courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment and excellence. Â Specifically, those student-athletes that have made an exceptional effort in impacting their local community through volunteerism, community programming and/or philanthropy between January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. Â Each Big Ten school was allowed to nominate two student-athletes and the Trojans selected were both from the USC track and field program. Â From the nominees, the Conference will select two individuals, one male and one female, as recipients of the Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award.
BIG TEN WEEKLY HONORS:Â Â Johnny Brackins Jr. was named Big Ten Men's Co-Track Athlete of the Week for the week of Jan.15-22;Â
JC Stevenson was named the Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week for Jan. 22-29; Johnnie Blockburger Big Ten Men's Track Athlete of the Week for the week of Feb. 5-12, JC Stevenson was named Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week fro Feb. 5-12, Â Johnny Brackins Jr. was named Big Ten Men's Track Athlete of the Week of Feb. 12-19; Johnny Brackins Jr. was named Big Ten Men's Track Athlete of the Week for the Week of Feb. 19-26.
YOU MIGHT NEED A PROGRAM:Â USC added 35 new athletes to its track and field program since the end of the 2024 season. Â
NEXT MEET:Â USC's next meet will be the NCAA Indoor Championships to be held at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Va. on March 14-15.
Â
BIG TEN INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS: Â USC, Oregon, UCLA and Washington will be competing in their first Big Ten Indoor Championships. Â Five different schools on both the men's and women's sides have won the Big Ten team title in the last decade. Â The 2024 women's team winner was Illinois and the men's team champion was Wisconsin, its second consecutive team title. Â The Pac-12 did not have an indoor championships and some of the teams competed in the MPSF Indoor Championships over the years.
USC ATHLETES TRAVELING TO BIG TENs:Â
Men: Â Jacob Andrews, Taylor Banks, Johnnie Blockburger, Johnny Brackins Jr., Nathan Cumberbatch, Shaiquan Dunn, Elias Gerald, William Jones, Garrett Kaalund, Jaelen Knox, Jazonte Levan, Yougendy Mauricette, Edward Nketia, Brady Palen, Nikolaos Polychroniou, JC Stevenson, Max Thomas and Travis Williams.Â
Women: Mia Brahe-Pedersen, Jassani Carter, Takiya Cenci, Dajaz DeFrand, Ashley Erasmus, Yemi John, Falyn Lott, Gigi Maccagnini, Christine M. Mallard, Samirah Moody, Temi Ojora, Olivia Pace, Lauren Reed, Maira Scott, Brianna Selby, Grace Smith, Nonah Waldron and Madison Whyte.
TOP 20 TROJANS:  The Trojans have 24 times or marks which rank among the top 20 on the current NCAA descending order list in a championships event: Men: Jacob Andrews (400m - 7th), Johnnie Blockburger (200m – 4th, 400m - 4th), Johnny Brackins Jr. (60m H – 1st, LJ - T-7th), Elias Gerald (HJ - T-9th), William Jones (400m - 9th), JC Stevenson (LJ – 1st, 60m - T-2nd), Max Thomas (60m – T-4th, 200m - 8th), Travis Williams (60m - T-12th) and 4x400m - T-4th.  Women:  Jassani Carter (60m - T-18th, 200m - 10th), Dajaz DeFrand (60m – T-9th), Yemi John (400m - 19th), Samirah Moody (60m – 7th, 200m - 19th), Temi Ojora (TJ - 6th), Nonah Waldron (60m H - T-13th), Madison Whyte (200m - 9th, 400m - 6th) and 4x400m (7th).
ANOTHER MEET, ANOTHER RECORD: Â A USC athlete has set or tied a school record in seven consecutive meets, dating back to the 2024 NCAA West Preliminary Rounds: NCAA West Prelims (Temi Ojora - WLJ), NCAA Championships (Jasmine Jones - W-400m H), Spokane Sports Showcase (Johnny Brackins Jr. - M-60m H), Red Raider Invite (JC Stevenson - M-60m, William Jones - M-600y, Yemi John - W-600y), Collegiate Classic (Falyn Lott - Freshman pentathlon record), Tiger Paw Invitational (Brackins Jr. - M-60m H) and USATF Indoors (M-60m H, USC & Big Ten record).
LAST SEASON: The USC men's team tied for seventh and the Trojan women's team tied for eighth at the 2024 NCAA Indoor T&F Championships.
RETURNING INDOOR ALL-AMERICANS: Trojans on the 2025 USC track and field team which earned 2024 Indoor All-America honors are Jacob Andrews (7th, M-4x400m), Johnnie Blockburger (7th, M-4x400m), Johnny Brackins Jr. (2nd, M-60m H, 4th, M-LJ), Yemi John (6th, W-400m, 2nd, W-4x400m), William Jones (5th, M-400m, 7th, M-4x400m), Temi Ojora (8th, W-TJ), Madison Whyte (2nd, W-4x400m) and Travis Williams (5th, M-60m).
DYNAMIC DUO: Â Trojan juniors JC Stevenson and Max Thomas currently rank tied for No.2 and tied for No. 4 on the NCAA descending order list in the 60m dash. Â Stevenson matched the USC 60m record with a time of 6.50 at the Red Raider Invite on Jan. 24 and Thomas ran the fourth-fastest time in school history of 6.53 at the Spokane Sports Showcase on Jan. 17. Â Currently their respective times rank tied for No. 4 and tied for No. 14 in the world. Â
BRACKINS JR. HURDLES INTO RECORD BOOKS AT USATFs:  Johnny Brackins Jr. placed third in the 60m H at the USATF Indoor Championships on Feb. 22 with a PR, USC-record, Big Ten-record and NCAA-leading time of 7.43. He also advanced to the final earlier in the day with a PR of 7.44.  The previous Big Ten record was 7.47 set by Wisconsin's Reggie Torian in 1997.  Brackins Jr. becomes the fourth-fastest collegiate 60m hurdler of all-time, trailing only Grant Holloway (7.35), Trey Cunningham (7.38) and Daniel Roberts (7.41). His 7.43 time is the fastest 60m hurdles time by a college athlete since Cunningham clocked 7.38 on March 12, 2022. Â
FOLLOW THE TROJANS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Â Keep up with everything USC track & field this year by following @USC_Track_Field on Instagram, X and TikTok.
THE NEW GUYS:Â The USC track and field program added a pair of Nebraska transfer this semester in Garrett Kaalund and Brithton Senior. Â The junior sprinter Kaalund has bests of 10.51 in the 100m, 20.25 in the 200m and 46.88 in the 400m. Â He is the Nebraska school record-holder in the 200m dash. Â The senior hurdler Senior has personal bests of 7.66 in the 60m hurdles, 13.54 in the 110m hurdles and 53.16 in the 400m hurdles.
USC NOMINATES MOODY AND BROCK FOR JACKIE ROBINSON AWARD:Â Sprinters Samirah Moody and Bryce Brock were nominated by USC for the Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award. Â The Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award was created to recognize Big Ten student-athletes who demonstrate Jackie Robinson's core values of "Jackie's nine" of courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment and excellence. Â Specifically, those student-athletes that have made an exceptional effort in impacting their local community through volunteerism, community programming and/or philanthropy between January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. Â Each Big Ten school was allowed to nominate two student-athletes and the Trojans selected were both from the USC track and field program. Â From the nominees, the Conference will select two individuals, one male and one female, as recipients of the Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award.
BIG TEN WEEKLY HONORS:Â Â Johnny Brackins Jr. was named Big Ten Men's Co-Track Athlete of the Week for the week of Jan.15-22;Â
JC Stevenson was named the Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week for Jan. 22-29; Johnnie Blockburger Big Ten Men's Track Athlete of the Week for the week of Feb. 5-12, JC Stevenson was named Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week fro Feb. 5-12, Â Johnny Brackins Jr. was named Big Ten Men's Track Athlete of the Week of Feb. 12-19; Johnny Brackins Jr. was named Big Ten Men's Track Athlete of the Week for the Week of Feb. 19-26.
YOU MIGHT NEED A PROGRAM:Â USC added 35 new athletes to its track and field program since the end of the 2024 season. Â
NEXT MEET:Â USC's next meet will be the NCAA Indoor Championships to be held at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Va. on March 14-15.
Â
USC Track & Field - 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships: Day 4 Highlights (6/14/25)
Saturday, June 14
USC Track & Field - 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships: Day 3 Highlights (6/13/25)
Friday, June 13
USC Track & Field - 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships: Day 2 Highlights (6/12/25)
Thursday, June 12
USC Track & Field - 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships: Day 1 Highlights (6/11/25)
Wednesday, June 11
