Purdue, USC and Washington Claim Weekly Men’s Indoor Track and Field Honors

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Men’s Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for the week of Jan. 14-21, 2026.  

Co-Track Athletes of the Week  
Garrett Kaalund, USC 
Senior – Sprints – San Antonio, Texas – Legal Studies 

• Won the Spokane Sports Showcase 300m with a time of 32.10 
• His time was the second-fastest time recorded in the NCAA all-time 
• It also was Kaalund’s first time competing in the 300m event 
• Last USC Indoor Track Athlete of the Week award: Johnny Brackins Jr. (Feb. 26, 2025) 

Tyler Bilyard, Washington 
Junior – Mid Distance – Great Yarmouth, England – Multidisciplinary Studies 

• Won the 1,000m at the UW Preview with a time of 2:17.96 
• The time currently leads the NCAA and ranks as the fourth-fastest mark in NCAA history 
• Bilyard is one of only four men in collegiate indoor history to run under 2:18.00 for the 1,000m 
• Last Washington Indoor Track Athlete of the Week award: Nathan Green (Jan. 22, 2025) 

Field Athlete of the Week 
James Rhoads, Washington 
Senior – Pole Vault – Baltimore, Ohio – Major: Postbaccalaureate Studies 

• Won the UW Preview with a clearance of 5.82m (19-1)  
• His mark broke the UW school record held since 2003, the Dempsey Indoor facility record, and the Big Ten record. 
• Both the facility and school record had stood for over 20 years until this weekend 
• This marks Rhoads’ second Indoor Field Athlete of the Week award this season 

Freshman of the Week 
Jax Coleman, Purdue 
Freshman – Sprints – Ocean Springs, Mass. – Major: Exploratory Studies 

• Was the leadoff leg for a 4x400m team that ran a converted 3:07.82 (due to altitude) to lead the Big Ten and rank No. 8 nationally 
• Ran a 47.21 split to propel the group to the best Big Ten time this season 
• This marks Purdue’s first Indoor Freshman of the Week award 

2025-26 Men’s Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week 
Dec. 10 
Track: Simeon Birnbaum, ORE 
Field: Collin Burkhart, PSU 
Freshman:  Henry Risser, WIS 

Dec. 17 
Track: Blake Nyenati, IOWA 
Field: James Rhoads, WASH 
Freshman:  Jordan Gross, IOWA 

Jan. 14 
Track: Trelee Banks, IND 
Field: Ryan Johnson, IOWA 
Freshman: Quincy Isaac, MICH 

Jan. 21 
Track: Garrett Kaalund, USC/Tyler Bilyard, WASH 
Field: James Rhoads, WASH 
Freshman: Jax Coleman, PUR