The 2026 NIKE Indoor Nationals entered day two with throwing, jumping and racing at an extraordinary level. This writer spent much of the time watching and enjoying the races from the side the track, interviewing some of the finest sprinters, distance runners and throwers in the country.
Events like this call on special skills. Some athletes are overwhelmed, some rise to the occasion. At the NIKE Indoor Nationals, we had some incredible improvements, and many who rose to the occasion!
Several observations continued as themes: N.S.A.F. is changing the sport. It is not merely putting on a National championships, but the coaching, and support provided to NIKE NIL athletes, but also, the sharing of information at events like this between coaches, parents and athletes. In this digital world, we sometimes forget that human contact, interaction and discussion are key for our evolution in all pursuits. Here are my five takeaways from the day 2:
- Impressed with the young winner, Kaddell Howard, in the 400 meters, and her amazing 52.65 for the win. Kaddell had battled Taylor-Nicole Overton. Howard took the lead in the last lap, pretty hard to do in the 400 meters. Kaddells’ speed was apparent as she won 52.65 to 53.23! Sad to see that Brooks Lloyed was taken out of her heat, at the last minute because a parent did not like the assigned lane. Instead of using the experience as a life lesson, the young women was given, in my estimation a poor lesson on handling challenges. All I can think of is Jereem Richards, the silver medalist from the 400 meters in Tokyo who ran a huge PB out of lane two. Or consider Angelo Taylor who won the 400 meter hurdles out of lane one in Sydney 2000.
Kaddell Howard ran 52.65 for her brilliant 400m win! photo by Brian Eder @cameraathletica for RunBlogRun - Joshua Shelton won the Boy’s 400 meters in 47.80 (his best this season is 45.91), running from the third heat. Joshua told me after the race that his legs were wiped out, as the race took alot out of him. The thrill of victory was there. The supposed faster heats did not deliver in the 400 meters for boys.
- Leah Starkey improved by 32 seconds in the 2 mile, running 9:48.02. Leah had run her 10:19 PB in the outdoor season. Leah held on to Aveni Lowen and outkicked her. Leah took a big PB and Aveni, with her 15:32.94 at 5,000 meters and 9:52.57. achieded the #2 double for 5000m/2 miles in high school history. Defending champion Addy Ritzenhein finished in third.
The starting line of the Girls Champs 2 mile, photo by Brian Eder @cameraatheltica for RunBlogRun - Three sections of the Boys 2 mile: 8:59 for the first, 8:54 for the second and 8:47 for the third. Casey Leonard, the top US miler (4:00.07) tried to challenge Marcelo Mantecon, who could have run, in this writer’s opinion. Mantecon, who told this writer and Coach Paul LImmer, post race, ” I just love to race”, used a 4:12 last mile, 1:59 last 800 meters and 57.6 last 400 meters to take his second title. In the interview, done ten minutes post race, Marcelo was well recovered. His 13:57 for 5k and 8:47 for 2 miles, within two days, was, well within his fitness level! The fast heat of the 2 mile was tedious. A 4:35 first mile, just played into the hands of a kicker like Mantecon.
- Remember this name: Joseph West III. Joseph, on his third jump, improved to 7.86 meters or 25’9.25″. With that leap, Joseph went to the number 5 U.S. and number six global all time! Joseph improved his best by 13.5 inches!
