2025 got off to a fantastic start in the world of collegiate track and field. Here’s a recap of all the action from the month
While I know the month ended Jan. 31, the 31st happened to be a Friday, meaning month-ending meets carried over to Feb. 1. We’ll include performances from the entire weekend for this article.
3 new NCAA records
Let’s start with the collegiate records.
Florida’s Jenoah McKiver ran the fastest time ever in the world in the indoor 600 yards, finishing in 1:05.75 at the Corky Classic. McKiver’s great start to the season didn’t end there, as he ran a nation-leading 45.19 seconds in the 400 meters two weeks later.
On the same day, Georgetown’s Tinoda Matsatsa broke the 1000 meter record for the second straight season, this time finishing in 2:16.84. His teammate Abel Teffra finished second with the second-fastest time in NCAA history.
RECORD-BREAKING: Tracking every track and field record broken in the 2025 season
Another record fell on Feb. 1, as Ethan Strand broke the collegiate mile record in 3:48.32 at the John Thomas Terrier Classic. It marked the second NCAA record of the season for the Tar Heel runner; he set the 3000 meter record back in December.
Others climb the all-time charts
If the records weren’t enough, there were also some other all-time performances seen on the track.
| Event | Athlete (School) | Time/Mark | All-time Rank | Meet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W Long Jump | Anthaya Charlton (Florida) |
6.98m | No. 2 Farthest | Razorback Invitational |
| W Pole Vault | Chloe Timberg (Rutgers) |
4.72m | No. 2 Highest | Scarlet Knight Open |
| W 600m | Sanu Jallow (Arkansas) |
1:25.37 | No. 2 Fastest | Arkansas Invitational |
| M 600 yards | William Jones (Southern California) |
1:07.52 | No. 3 Fastest | Red Raider Invitational |
| M 300m | Auhmad Robinson (Texas A&M) |
32.34s | No. 3 Fastest | McFerrin-12 Degree Invitational |
| W 1000m | Bella Pietrasiewicz (Dartmouth) |
2:39.85 | No. 3 Fastest | John Thomas Terrier Classic |
| W 1000m | Hayley Kitching (Penn State) |
2:39.86 | No. 4 Fastest | Nittany Lion Challenge |
| M Weight Throw | Trey Knight (CSUN) |
24.87m | No. 4 Farthest | Nevada Invitational & Multi |
| W Mile | Wilma Nielsen (Oregon) |
4:25.89 | No. 4 Fastest | Dr. Sander Scorcher |
| W 1500m | Wilma Nielsen (Oregon) |
4:07.38 | No. 5 Fastest | Dr. Sander Scorcher |
| W 1000m | Gladys Chepngetich (Clemson) |
2:39.99 | No. 5 Fastest | Clemson Invitational |
| W 5000m | Lexy Halladay-Lowry (BYU) |
14:57.63 | No. 5 Fastest | John Thomas Terrier Classic |
| M 5000m | Habtom Samuel (New Mexico) |
13:04.92 | No. 5 Fastest | John Thomas Terrier Classic |
| M 300m | Donald Chiyangwa (Alabama) |
32.38s | No. 6 Fastest | Orange and Purple Invitational |
| W Pole Vault | Amanda Moll (Washington) |
4.66m | No. 6 Highest | UW Invite |
| W Pole Vault | Hana Moll (Washington) |
4.66m | No. 6 Highest | UW Invite |
| W Mile | Riley Chamberlain (BYU) |
4:26.19 | No. 6 Fastest | John Thomas Terrier Classic |
| W 1500m | Riley Chamberlain (BYU) |
4:08.61 | No. 7 Fastest | John Thomas Terrier Classic |
| M 800m | Abdullahi Hassan (Mississippi State) |
1:45.53 | No. 7 Fastest | Orange and Purple Invitational |
| W 3000m | Amy Bunnage (Stanford) |
8:43.82 | No. 7 Fastest | John Thomas Terrier Classic |
| W 3000m | Pamela Kosgei (New Mexico) |
8:44.62 | No. 8 Fastest | UW Invite |
| W 600 yards | Yemi John (Southern California) |
1:18.55 | No. 8 Fastest | Red Raider Invitational |
| W 300m | JaMeesia Ford (South Carolina) |
36.48s | No. 9 Fastest | Gamecock Opener |
| W 600m | Gabriella Grissom (Miami (FL)) |
1:26.89 | No. 9 Fastest | Gamecock Opener |
| W 3000m | Kimberly May (Providence) |
8:44.73 | No. 9 Fastest | John Thomas Terrier Classic |
| W 800m | Meghan Hunter (BYU) |
2:00.21 | No. 10 Fastest | John Thomas Terrier Classic |
| W 800m | Makayla Paige (North Carolina) |
2:00.57 | No. 6 Performer | John Thomas Terrier Classic |
| M 60 hurdles | Johnny Brackins Jr. (Southern California) |
7.49s | No. 6 Performer | Spokane Sports Showcase |
| W 600m | Rebecca Grieve (New Mexico) |
1:26.91 | No. 9 Performer | New Mexico Team Open |
| W Pentathlon | Jadin O'Brien (Notre Dame) |
4,552 pts | No. 9 Performer | DeLoss Dodds Invitational |
| W 600m | Anna Podojil (Arkansas) |
1:26.95 | No. 10 Performer | Arkansas Invitational |
Men’s Bowerman race looks good early
The next Bowerman watch lists come out on Wednesday, Feb. 5 and Thursday, Feb. 6, and it’ll be the first watch list since the preseason. From the preseason watch list, plenty have started to live up to the hype.
USC’s Johnny Brackins Jr. and Auburn’s Ja’Kobe Tharp haven't lost a 60 hurdles race yet this year. Ole Miss’ Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan hasn’t lost in the shot put or weight throw this season. New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel is the active leader in the 5000 meters with the fifth-fastest time in NCAA history at 13:04.92. And we’ve already talked about the UNC distance runners.
For your entertainment: the 6th-fastest 60m hurdles time (7.49) in NCAA history by @JohnnyBrackins_ 👏
— USC Track & Field / XC (@USC_Track_Field) January 17, 2025
🎥 @runnerspace pic.twitter.com/PJjai1oMnR
GREAT START: 5 elite January performances that could carry over into March
Freshman rolling in women’s sprints
Freshmen women have made their marks early in the sprints. The two fastest in the 60 meters are TCU’s Indya Mayberry at 7.13 seconds and Tarleton State’s Victoria Cameron at 7.16 seconds. If that wasn’t enough, Clemson’s Aniyah Kitt is the seventh-fastest in the 60 while East Carolina’s Kelly Ufodiama and Kentucky’s Sharmelle Holmes are in the top 15.
Mayberry, Ufodiama and Kitt sit No. 3, No. 6 and No. 11 nationally in the 200 meters as well — all from times run in January.
SHARMELLE HOLMES BREAKS THE FRESHMAN RECORD...AGAIN!!!
— UK Track & Field (@KentuckyTrack) January 18, 2025
Women's 60m Semi - Corky Classic
4. Sharmelle Holmes - 7.24 q (PR, Freshman Record, No. 6 UK All-Time)
5. Victoria Perrow - 7.25 q (=PR, No. 7 UK All-Time)#WeAreUK x #UKTF pic.twitter.com/e8VeCbCqKh
Beyond the sprints, we can’t forget about New Mexico’s Pamela Kosgei, either. In January, she ran the No. 2 3000 meters and No. 11 mile so far this year after previously opening the season with a top-four 5000 meters in December.
Over on the men’s side, some standout freshmen sprinters include Ajani Dwyer (Penn State), Consider Ekanem (Tennessee) and Eddidong Udo (Ohio State).
ABOUT LAST MONTH: Recapping December in NCAA indoor track and field
Women’s defending champs don’t miss a beat
Notre Dame’s Jadin O’Brien has won the last two women’s Pentathlons during the indoor season and she’s off to a better start in 2025 than she was in any of those years. O’Brien PR’d at the DeLoss Dodds Invitational, totaling 4,552 points.
Defending shot put champ Mya Lesnar threw an collegiate-leading 18.81 meters at the New Mexico Team Open. Lesnar also threw 18.45 meters at the same meet, showing great consistency in what is shaping up to be a deep year in the shot put. Five women have already surpassed 18.20 meters in January!
Defending NCAA Champ Mya Lesnar looking good 😤
— Beau Throws (@beau_throws) February 1, 2025
The @CSUTrackFieldXC athlete now leads all of college.
video: @throwingsmarter pic.twitter.com/e3HKBqxooL
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The top indoor track and field meets to watch in 2025
Men's field events building up
In the pole vault, Texas A&M’s Aleksandr Solovev cleared 5.80 meters on his third attempt before pushing himself to failure at 5.90 meters at the New Mexico Team Open. Akron’s Hunter Garretson cleared 5.75 meters in one attempt at the Hokie Invitational before he failed at 5.85 meters. Both Solovev and Garretson are reaching new heights in January. They aren’t far from attempting the collegiate record at 6.00 meters if they keep this up.
Sasha is just built different 🤷
— Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country (@aggietfxc) February 3, 2025
He broke his own school record and recaptured the national lead in the men’s pole vault with a clearance of 5.80m/19-0.25 ✅#GigEm // #AggieTF pic.twitter.com/UJ6gQrtaQq
Meanwhile, the men’s weight throw continues to prove itself to be the can’t-miss-event during the indoor season. Five men surpassed 23.9 meters in January, with CSUN’s Trey Knight reaching the No. 4 all-time mark at 24.87 meters. These athletes will only get stronger and their technique sharper as championships approach.
CSUN Senior Trey Knight opens with a statement😤
— Beau Throws (@beau_throws) January 25, 2025
24.87m- NCAA Lead and #3 NCAA All-time.
video: torie_tc-ig pic.twitter.com/xW4xDkN3ot
