Entering the outdoor season, the expectations for the Trojan track and field team could not have been higher. Last year, the women won the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championship, while the men shared the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championship title with Texas A&M.

Despite not having as much success as last year, both programs still managed to place in the top five during the 2026 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 15-17 at the Nebraska Outdoor Track. The women placed third with 90 points, while the men took fourth with 70.5 points.

Standouts included junior sprinters Madison Whyte and Eddie Nketia, who were both named the Track Athlete of the Championships — Whyte for women’s track and Nketia for men’s track. Both won at least two titles for USC during the weekend, adding to the team’s total of nine titles.

Whyte leads women to top-three finish

Meet records and school-best times were broken at the Championship in two of the relay races by a total of six female sprinters. Four set a new meet record of 42.85 seconds in the 4×100-meter race while others ran a school-best time and meet record of 3:28.52 in the 4×400-meter relay.

Of the five titles women’s track won, Whyte contributed to four of them, including both relay races. The Women’s Sportsmanship Honoree for USC also secured a gold medal in the 200 and 400-meter events.

Her 51.01-second dash for the 400-meter title one-upped the silver medal she earned in the indoor 400-meter this year. Whyte’s otherworldly showing also gave her a spot on the All-Big Ten First Team.

Sophomore sprinter Brianna Selby secured a gold medal in the 100-meter race. Selby recorded a time of 10.74 seconds, the No. 2 all-conditions time in NCAA history, just .02 seconds behind the record. Selby also added to the trophy case with a nomination to the All-Big Ten First Team.

Senior sprinter Dajaz DeFrand was a key piece in the record-setting 4×100-meter relay, alongside Whyte and Selby. On her own, she won a silver medal in the 100-meter dash with a 10.90-second time and a bronze medal in the 200-meter dash, all while being named to the All-Big Ten First Team.

The final sprinter in the 4×100-meter relay was senior Christine Mallard, who also competed in the 4×400-meter relay with Whyte. Her record-breaking performances earned her an All-Big Ten First Team spot. Freshman sprinter Joelle Trepagnier and senior sprinter Takiya Cenci rounded out the 4×400-meter relay, earning them All-Big Ten First Team spots as well.

Nketia wins two of men’s four titles

Nketia was an absolute force on the track, winning the 100 and 200-meter races. In the 100-meter race, Nketia set an Australian all-conditions record of 9.74 seconds. After finishing in sixth in preliminaries, Nketia turned the page and tore down the track, running a 20.03 in the 200-meter final on his way to a second gold medal in the Championship.

On May 18, Nketia was named the NCAA Division I Men’s National Co-Athlete of the Week for his performance at the Championship. He was also one of three Trojan men who were selected to the All-Big Ten First Team, adding to his big day in Lincoln.

The second of the three was freshman sprinter Jack Stadlman. Similar to Whyte, Stadlman won the 400-meter race, completing the indoor and outdoor sweep of the two. Stadlman earned his outdoor title in 45.44 seconds. He was also selected to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team.

Junior thrower Racquil Broderick had a nice day in Nebraska, securing a gold medal in the discus throw and earning himself a spot on the All-Big Ten First Team. After setting the USC program record in discus at 63.31 meters in 2025, Broderick followed it up this year in the Big Ten Championships, throwing 62.80 meters. Freshman thrower Mico Lampinen finished in second place, recording a distance of 59.81 meters.

Lampinen also placed fourth in the hammer throw, with a distance of 69.89 meters, which marked a personal best for the youngster. He was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. His accolades continued during the Championships, as he was named the Men’s Sportsmanship Honoree for USC.

Looking ahead to the NCAA West Regionals, Whyte and Nketia will headline the talented group of Trojans as they begin on Wednesday in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in hopes of securing a second straight national championship for the men and the first for the women since 2021.