USC Men Stack Wins At The NCAA West Track And Field Regional, Plus More

COLLEGE STATION, Texas—Garrett Kaalund situated in the blocks, bowed his head, and waited for the gun to sound.

“The main thing that goes through my mind is to calm myself down,” he said.

In a blur, the University of Southern California junior, a San Antonio native who transferred to the Trojans’ program from Nebraska in 2025 following an impressive first two years of collegiate sprinting, crossed the line in a wind-legal 19.85 seconds, clocking the third-fastest 200 meter time in the world and the eighth-best NCAA performance in history on Friday at the NCAA West Track and Field First Round inside E.B. Cushing Stadium.

“It gives me a lot more confidence than I previously had,” Kaalund said. “Initially I felt as if I could definitely win nationals, but now I really kind of believe it instead of just saying it.”

Kaalund has quietly emerged this spring for the Trojans, claiming personal records in the 100 meters (9.93), 200 meters (19.85) and 400 meters (44.73). He finished fourth at the distance at indoor nationals in March, which followed an outdoor nationals bid with Nebraska in 2024.

Better yet, he capped off an impressive haul for USC, which secured two more automatic spots to the NCAA Outdoor Championships over the first two heats of the 200 meters and an array of additional national qualifiers, including relay teams in the 4×100 and 4×400, four athletes in the 100 meters and the top 400 meter performer at the NCAA West Regional.

The result was a strong indication that the Trojans, one of the most successful programs in NCAA history, have a viable shot to win an outdoor title in two weeks in Eugene.

The USC men haven’t won a men’s outdoor title since 1976.

This Arkansas Star Secured A World-Leading Performance At The NCAA West Regional

On Friday, Jordan Anthony secured the world’s fastest 100 meter performance in 9.75 seconds.

Despite being slightly outside the requirements of a wind-legal race, it was the second-fastest all-conditions NCAA performance in history, only behind UTEP’s Obadele Thompson’s effort of 9.69 in 1996–though that was with a 5.0 meters per second wind and Anthony’s was a 2.1 mark.

The reigning national indoor champion at 60 meters wasn’t fazed.

“I’ve had the confidence, just not cockiness,” Anthony said afterward. “I know the work I put in day and night. So anybody who steps on the track with me, it’s F you mentality. I don’t care what you did two weeks prior. You got to re-do it. Like Coach Buck said, validate it.”

The effort marks an important line in the sand for Anthony, who’s arguably been the most consistent performer on the NCAA stage this season and was added to the Bowerman Watch List on May 22. With a wind-legal sub-10 time at the Mt. SAC Relays in April and then two SEC Outdoor titles in May in the 100 meters and 200 meters, Anthony could have felt the pressure on his back.

He didn’t.

“My pride and I,” he said. “I don’t know, man, there’s just a dog in me.”

Four men broke 10 seconds at Regional on Friday, including USC’s Taylor Banks (9.91), Iowa’s Kalen Walker (9.94) and Washington State’s Mason Lawyer (9.95). Walker was the only athlete to accomplish the feat with a wind-legal time.

The Big Ten champion also secured the first sub-10 performance of his career.

“I think as I get older, these big moments drive me to be better,” Walker said.

BYU Steeplechase Veteran Looks To Avenge NCAA Loss In 2024

James Corrigan has been eyeing up a trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships for months.

On Friday, the Brigham Young University junior advanced to nationals after a steady performance in the first heat of the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 8:31.79. New Mexico’s Mathew Kosgei led all performers with his 8:25.41 mark in the third section.

A year ago, Corrigan struggled to put together a quality effort in the NCAA final following a qualifying mark in the first round. But after solving those issues in the U.S. Olympic Trials and then qualifying for the Paris Olympics, Corrigan has been in a completely different heat space.

Behind strong training with the Cougars and a great relationship with BYU head coach Ed Eyestone, Corrigan says he’s more ready than he’s ever been.

“I was able to prove I can run rounds and prove that, I guess, my season last year wasn’t a fluke,” Corrigan said. “This year, I’m not worried in the least. I recognize what stopped me from performing how I could have and so I have just as much confidence as I did before last year.”

Portland Pilots Senior Matt Strangio Driven By His Late Father

University of Portland Matthew Strangio took control of the 5,000 meters a little earlier than expected on Friday at the NCAA West Regional.

“Probably took it out a little further than our coach would have liked,” said Strangio, who managed the pace and ultimately leaned on his strength to claim the NCAA West Regional in 13:25.98.

But that confidence was worth something, because Strangio – who ran a personal best time of 13:24.14 in April at the Stanford Invitational – had another gear over the final 800 meters, holding off California Baptist’s Valentin Soca and Iowa State’s Robin Kwemoi through the final straight away.

“Had a really good training block and since Stanford and have been pretty on it,” Strangio said. “I take myself against everybody anyways, so I wanted to come out here when the pace felt good.”

Behind the surface, though, Strangio has also been running with more meaning. The Pilot senior lost his father, Steven Strangio, after the NCAA Indoor Championships and has dedicated his performances since then to him.

“I know I run with him on my side,” he said. “I try to do it for him, but I also know he’s always wanted me to do it for myself.”