2026 NIKE Indoor Nationals, Five TakeAways from Day One

Anyway, it’s early morning. After a busy few months covering the world track and field season, your favorite editor/blogger/podcaster finds himself in New York City, the Big Apple for the high school indoor season.

I’m at the NIKE Indoor Nationals, one of the greatest examples of how amazing sports can be for today’s society. This is not hyperbole. I believe that sport, in many cases, is the way that cultures come together to unite society, regardless of what is going on around them.

In our current exciting times, the NIKE Indoor Nationals, at least in my estimation, celebrates not the best young athletes in North America, but their coaches, their families and their fans. It also recognizes the hard work and dedication of the groups that put on the event, the NSAF, the NIKE Track & Field Armory staff and volunteers, and the sponsors of this four-day extravaganza who run, jump and throw. Here are my five takeaways from Day 1:

1. My last trip to National Scholastic Athletic Foundation Indoor Championsnow NIKE Indoor Nationalswas in 1998 at the Reggie Lewis Center. The late one Mike Byrnes and very alive Jim Spier joked, begged and reminded me to get to this event and as some have mentioned, my life changed. Twenty-eight years later, I still remember a very young man Andy Powellwho ran second and junior American bests for the mile, winning the meet’s 2 mile and mile. Andy Powell represented Oliver Ames High School in MA. In 1999, Andy Powell and Franklin Sanchez dueled at the Massachusetts state meet over two miles, where they broke Alberto Salazar’s single state record. Andy would go on to Stanford, where his team won the 2000 NCAA outdoor title and the 2002 NCAA indoor championship. Andy Powell and his wife Maurica now run the University of Washington Huskies (as of 2018), now known as #MileCity. Andy Powell coached Joe Wascom, Luke Hauser and Nate Green, all NCAA Mile and 1500m champions. Maurica Powell developed NCAA champion Sophie O’Sullivan pole vault phenomenon, the Moll sisters, among others. It NSAF changes lives and has given generations of athletes a chance to see what they can do in global sport.
2. It NIKE TRAFFIC ARSENAL is “The house that Norb built.“For those of you born under the dome, Dr. Norb Sander was the man who begged, begged, begged and raised millions of dollars to rebuild the shrine of sports that NIKE TRAFFIC ARSENAL to the shrine of the sport that it is today. Norb was the 1974 New York Marathon champion known for his amazing miles (seriously, like 200 miles a week), a Fordham graduate who we lost too soon in 2016. Next to the track is a bust of Norby. I just saw Friday and I was teary but with tears and a smile. Norb would be so pleased with the best of this “Castle of the First Battle”how Zakia Haywood (Arms Fund Director of Special Projects) calls it, made it.
3. It NSAF: it’s all about building the sport of track and field. There is Josh Rowe, CEO from 2022; and the wonderful NSAF team JAsh Rowe and the iconic Jim Spier (co-founder and director emeritus) are among the characters that make the event shine. Paul LeamerThe NSAF team is comprised of only the kindest coach and New Jersey/New York athletics resident who spends more time than you can imagine making NIKE Indoor and NIKE Outdoor the great events they are today. A dog’s cello (The board president) told me as we waited for the bus that he wants to see this organization grow and create opportunities forever. Dr. Liz Wheeler provides medical advice and John Blackburn, key official and trailer (John takes pleasure in providing information with true esoteric traces) Christie Rieger is the event director, managing the madness that brings five thousand plus athletes to the Big Apple, and then an Olympic champion, Dawn Harper-Nelson, For project manager NIKE Elite Programwhich is powered NSAF:. It was the NSAF that gave it to us Cooper Lutkenhaus and: Jane Hendegren. Seeing a friend for a long time Johnny Truax, who championed NIKE track and field from 2004-2012, among other endeavors helping Josh spent my weekends. It NSAF: changed the sport of track and field in this country.
4. What did I find there? NIKE Arsenal, after all these years? A facility full of athletes, parents, coaches, fans, media and volunteers and officials celebrating our sport. In a world torn apart by partisan politics, global and regional conflicts, sport must unite. In most cases it does. The NIKE Indoor Champs is an example of how, even in modern times, track and field can lead the way, helping people enjoy the simple act of celebrating those who can run, jump and throw a little farther, sometimes a lot faster than their peers. Since the ancient Olympics, athletes have been celebrated as part of their ancient religion and beliefs. Today, NIKE Indoor Nationals gives us four days to celebrate and push forward those with promise.
5. From the shot put, a fairly esoteric and yet glamorous throwing event popular in North America, to a tantalizing 5,000 meter race that highlighted Day 1 and a new high school record in the boy’s triple jump, there really was something for everyone. from the modest confidence of Blair Bartlett, after his win who reminded me how Avery Lowe helped build the race, for courage Marcelo Mantecon, who took the boy’s 5,000m in a flash and thanked his competitors after the race, this writer was reminded that the truly great moments in sports are not planned, but happen during the confluence of the perfect storm that is the NIKE Indoor Nationals. Looking forward to another three days NIKE arsenal!