University Southern California Trojans
USC Track and Field's Madison Whyte and Garrett Kaalund Named Big Ten Sportmanship Honorees
March 04, 2026 | Track & Field
LOS ANGELES – The Big Ten conference announced 2026 Indoor Track and Field Sportsmanship Honorees on Wednesday afternoon. Junior Madison Whyte was named the representative for the Women of Troy and Garrett Kaalund received recognition on the men's side.
Sportsmanship honorees are individuals who have set themselves apart through hard work, sportsmanship and honorable behavior. The nominee holds good academic standing and demonstrates good citizenship outside of the sport.
Whyte dominated in the 400m and 4x400m relay this season. On February 9, she received Women's National Athlete of the Week from the USTFCCCA for her performance of 50.82 in the indoor 400m at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. Whyte achieved the top time in the NCAA for the event this season, broke the facility record and recorded the second-fastest time in school history. Later the same day, Whyte ran a 50.21 split on the anchor leg of the women's 4x400m relay to secure the women's first relay win of the season. At Big Ten Indoor Championships, Whyte ran a meet record and facility record in the women's 400m with a time of 51.31 to claim the event title and add 10 points towards the team finish. She once again ran a strong anchor leg in the 4x400m to break the meet and facility record with a time of 3:28.89.
Kaalund's standout season in the 200m put him at the top of the school and NCAA record books. At Big Ten Indoor Championships, his new program record of 20.06 registered as No. 2 time in NCAA history and No. 3 in the world all-time. He also broke the meet and facility record to bring home the gold in the event. He initially broke the school record and earned the world lead at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic in 20.12, breaking the school record (20.26) set by Olympic champion Andre De Grasse in 2015.
Both Whyte and Kaalund hold the top time in the NCAA for their event this season as the NCAA Indoor Championships come into view. They will travel to Arkansas next for the championships held on March 13 and 14 at the Randal Tyson Indoor Facility. More information can be found at usctrojans.com and live updates will be provided @usc_track_field on Instagram and X.
Men's Indoor Track & Field Sportsmanship Honorees
Tadeas Placek, Illinois
Nikos Sidirenos, Indiana
Vaugh Devaugh III, Iowa
Miles Brown, Michigan
Logan Allen, Michigan State
Noa Isaia, Nebraska
Edidiong Udo, Ohio State
Aiden Carter, Oregon
Niko Schultz, Penn State
Seamus Malaski, Purdue
Donavan Anderson, Rutgers
Chris Paige, UCLA
Garrett Kaalund, USC
Reuben Reina, Washington
Zion Ometesa, Wisconsin
Women's Indoor Track & Field Sportsmanship Honorees
Kennady Anderson, Illinois
Amelia Dodds, Indiana
Princess Uche, Iowa
Tolulope Akinduro, Maryland
Amare Harlan, Michigan
Sarah Forsyth, Michigan State
Diarra Sow, Minnesota
Grace Parsons, Nebraska
Skye Ellis, Northwestern
Aniya Mosley, Ohio State
Katie Clute, Oregon
Maddie Pitts, Penn State
Angelina Amefia, Purdue
Charlee Crawford, Rutgers
Kapiolani Coleman, UCLA
Madison Whyte, USC
Hana Moll, Washington
Kylie Finger, Wisconsin
Sportsmanship honorees are individuals who have set themselves apart through hard work, sportsmanship and honorable behavior. The nominee holds good academic standing and demonstrates good citizenship outside of the sport.
Whyte dominated in the 400m and 4x400m relay this season. On February 9, she received Women's National Athlete of the Week from the USTFCCCA for her performance of 50.82 in the indoor 400m at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. Whyte achieved the top time in the NCAA for the event this season, broke the facility record and recorded the second-fastest time in school history. Later the same day, Whyte ran a 50.21 split on the anchor leg of the women's 4x400m relay to secure the women's first relay win of the season. At Big Ten Indoor Championships, Whyte ran a meet record and facility record in the women's 400m with a time of 51.31 to claim the event title and add 10 points towards the team finish. She once again ran a strong anchor leg in the 4x400m to break the meet and facility record with a time of 3:28.89.
Kaalund's standout season in the 200m put him at the top of the school and NCAA record books. At Big Ten Indoor Championships, his new program record of 20.06 registered as No. 2 time in NCAA history and No. 3 in the world all-time. He also broke the meet and facility record to bring home the gold in the event. He initially broke the school record and earned the world lead at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic in 20.12, breaking the school record (20.26) set by Olympic champion Andre De Grasse in 2015.
Both Whyte and Kaalund hold the top time in the NCAA for their event this season as the NCAA Indoor Championships come into view. They will travel to Arkansas next for the championships held on March 13 and 14 at the Randal Tyson Indoor Facility. More information can be found at usctrojans.com and live updates will be provided @usc_track_field on Instagram and X.
Men's Indoor Track & Field Sportsmanship Honorees
Tadeas Placek, Illinois
Nikos Sidirenos, Indiana
Vaugh Devaugh III, Iowa
Miles Brown, Michigan
Logan Allen, Michigan State
Noa Isaia, Nebraska
Edidiong Udo, Ohio State
Aiden Carter, Oregon
Niko Schultz, Penn State
Seamus Malaski, Purdue
Donavan Anderson, Rutgers
Chris Paige, UCLA
Garrett Kaalund, USC
Reuben Reina, Washington
Zion Ometesa, Wisconsin
Women's Indoor Track & Field Sportsmanship Honorees
Kennady Anderson, Illinois
Amelia Dodds, Indiana
Princess Uche, Iowa
Tolulope Akinduro, Maryland
Amare Harlan, Michigan
Sarah Forsyth, Michigan State
Diarra Sow, Minnesota
Grace Parsons, Nebraska
Skye Ellis, Northwestern
Aniya Mosley, Ohio State
Katie Clute, Oregon
Maddie Pitts, Penn State
Angelina Amefia, Purdue
Charlee Crawford, Rutgers
Kapiolani Coleman, UCLA
Madison Whyte, USC
Hana Moll, Washington
Kylie Finger, Wisconsin
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & FieldUSC 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
