Each week, the National Athlete of the Week award recognizes outstanding collegiate Track and Field athletes across multiple divisions. It includes male and female categories for NCAA divisions, National Junior College divisions, and the NAIA. Nominations for this prestigious honor are open to the public, with coaches, sports information directors, student-athletes, families, friends, and program supporters encouraged to put forth deserving candidates.

This accolade aims to spotlight not only exceptional times, marks, and scores but also performances that resonate on the national stage in an athlete’s season. However, the sports world was captivated as a 20-year-old athlete as he seized the prestigious NCAA title after delivering a truly magnificent performance at the USATF Indoor Championship.

The 20-year-old track and field star became an athlete of the week

NCAA Track and Field announced on 21 Feb, the week’s standout men’s track and field athlete, none other than Johnny Brackins from USC. Brackins secured the title after his remarkable victory at the USA Track and Field Indoor Championship. His exceptional performance not only secured the gold medal but also solidified his status as the only collegiate athlete to accomplish this feat at the event. 

Furthermore, Brackins’ achievement placed him second in the NCAA rankings for the season. The caption accompanying the announcement read, ” Athlete of the Week Johnny Brackins is this week’s NCAA Athlete of the Week!” With an impressive increase of nearly three inches in his personal record, the standout athlete hailing from Southern California accomplished a remarkable feat.

He joined an elite group as only the fourth collegian to secure the U.S. title since 2000. Moreover, Brackins’ accomplishment signifies a notable milestone for the USC program, as he emerges as the inaugural athlete from Southern California to be bestowed the prestigious title of M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the indoor season.

Brackins Jr. sets Records and shines at USATF Indoor Championships

In a thrilling display of athleticism, Johnny Brackins, on 17th Feb, claimed the gold medal in the long jump at the USATF Indoor Championship. Despite not surpassing eight meters in any of his initial five jumps, Brackins approached his final attempt with determination, making it his eighth overall. His exceptional leap not only earned him the men’s long jump title but also established a new school record, reaffirming his position as the U.S. indoor long jump champion.

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His personal-best and school-record-breaking jump of 27-0.00 (8.23m) surpassed the previous USC record set in 1990 by Dietmar Haaf. Remarkably, all six of Brackins Jr.’s jumps during the competition exceeded the 25.0 feet mark, propelling him to second place on the NCAA indoor descending order list.

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