University of Southern California’s Garrett Kaalund holds up a qualifying ticket for the NCAA … More Outdoor Championships. Kaalund, a junior, ran the third-fastest 200 meter time in the world in 19.85 seconds.
University of Southern California
COLLEGE STATION, Texas—Garrett Kaalund situated in the blocks, bowed his head, and waited for the gun to sound.
“The main thing that goes through my mind is to calm myself down,” he said.
In a blur, the University of Southern California junior, a San Antonio native who transferred to the Trojans’ program from Nebraska in 2025 following an impressive first two years of collegiate sprinting, crossed the line in a wind-legal 19.85 seconds, clocking the third-fastest 200 meter time in the world and the eighth-best NCAA performance in history on Friday at the NCAA West Track and Field First Round inside E.B. Cushing Stadium.
“It gives me a lot more confidence than I previously had,” Kaalund said. “Initially I felt as if I could definitely win nationals, but now I really kind of believe it instead of just saying it.”
Kaalund has quietly emerged this spring for the Trojans, claiming personal records in the 100 meters (9.93), 200 meters (19.85) and 400 meters (44.73). He finished fourth at the distance at indoor nationals in March, which followed an outdoor nationals bid with Nebraska in 2024.
Better yet, he capped off an impressive haul for USC, which secured two more automatic spots to the NCAA Outdoor Championships over the first two heats of the 200 meters and an array of additional national qualifiers, including relay teams in the 4×100 and 4×400, four athletes in the 100 meters and the top 400 meter performer at the NCAA West Regional.
The result was a strong indication that the Trojans, one of the most successful programs in NCAA history, have a viable shot to win an outdoor title in two weeks in Eugene.
The USC men haven’t won a men’s outdoor title since 1976.
VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA – MARCH 15: Jordan Anthony of Arkansas Razorbacks poses for a photo after … More winning the Men’s 60 meter final on day two of the Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship held at the Virginia Beach Sports Center on March 15, 2025 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
NCAA Photos via Getty Images
This Arkansas Star Secured A World-Leading Performance At The NCAA West Regional
On Friday, Jordan Anthony secured the world’s fastest 100 meter performance in 9.75 seconds.
Despite being slightly outside the requirements of a wind-legal race, it was the second-fastest all-conditions NCAA performance in history, only behind UTEP’s Obadele Thompson’s effort of 9.69 in 1996–though that was with a 5.0 meters per second wind and Anthony’s was a 2.1 mark.
The reigning national indoor champion at 60 meters wasn’t fazed.
“I’ve had the confidence, just not cockiness,” Anthony said afterward. “I know the work I put in day and night. So anybody who steps on the track with me, it’s F you mentality. I don’t care what you did two weeks prior. You got to re-do it. Like Coach Buck said, validate it.”
The effort marks an important line in the sand for Anthony, who’s arguably been the most consistent performer on the NCAA stage this season and was added to the Bowerman Watch List on May 22. With a wind-legal sub-10 time at the Mt. SAC Relays in April and then two SEC Outdoor titles in May in the 100 meters and 200 meters, Anthony could have felt the pressure on his back.
He didn’t.
“My pride and I,” he said. “I don’t know, man, there’s just a dog in me.”
Four men broke 10 seconds at Regional on Friday, including USC’s Taylor Banks (9.91), Iowa’s Kalen Walker (9.94) and Washington State’s Mason Lawyer (9.95). Walker was the only athlete to accomplish the feat with a wind-legal time.
The Big Ten champion also secured the first sub-10 performance of his career.
“I think as I get older, these big moments drive me to be better,” Walker said.
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 05: James Corrigan of Team United States competes during the Men’s 3000m … More Steeplechase Round 1 on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Getty Images
BYU Steeplechase Veteran Looks To Avenge NCAA Loss In 2024
James Corrigan has been eyeing up a trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships for months.
On Friday, the Brigham Young University junior advanced to nationals after a steady performance in the first heat of the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 8:31.79. New Mexico’s Mathew Kosgei led all performers with his 8:25.41 mark in the third section.
A year ago, Corrigan struggled to put together a quality effort in the NCAA final following a qualifying mark in the first round. But after solving those issues in the U.S. Olympic Trials and then qualifying for the Paris Olympics, Corrigan has been in a completely different heat space.
Behind strong training with the Cougars and a great relationship with BYU head coach Ed Eyestone, Corrigan says he’s more ready than he’s ever been.
“I was able to prove I can run rounds and prove that, I guess, my season last year wasn’t a fluke,” Corrigan said. “This year, I’m not worried in the least. I recognize what stopped me from performing how I could have and so I have just as much confidence as I did before last year.”
Portland Pilots Senior Matt Strangio Driven By His Late Father
University of Portland Matthew Strangio took control of the 5,000 meters a little earlier than expected on Friday at the NCAA West Regional.
“Probably took it out a little further than our coach would have liked,” said Strangio, who managed the pace and ultimately leaned on his strength to claim the NCAA West Regional in 13:25.98.
But that confidence was worth something, because Strangio – who ran a personal best time of 13:24.14 in April at the Stanford Invitational – had another gear over the final 800 meters, holding off California Baptist’s Valentin Soca and Iowa State’s Robin Kwemoi through the final straight away.
“Had a really good training block and since Stanford and have been pretty on it,” Strangio said. “I take myself against everybody anyways, so I wanted to come out here when the pace felt good.”
Behind the surface, though, Strangio has also been running with more meaning. The Pilot senior lost his father, Steven Strangio, after the NCAA Indoor Championships and has dedicated his performances since then to him.
“I know I run with him on my side,” he said. “I try to do it for him, but I also know he’s always wanted me to do it for myself.”
Hoboken, N.J. – Looking to defend their Middle Atlantic Conference Championship, the Stevens Institute of Technology men’s volleyball team was selected first in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll, it was announced Friday.
The Ducks collected 62 points and six first-place votes, with Messiah earning 58 points and the remaining three first-place votes. Rounding out the top four were Misericordia (51 points) and Stevenson (40 points).
Arcadia was slotted fifth with 35 points, while Widener registered 29 points to place sixth. Rounding out the poll were Eastern (25 points), King’s (16 points), and Hood (8 points).
The Ducks, who won their fourth consecutive MAC Championship last season, open the 2026 campaign by hosting St. Joseph’s (Long Island) and Drew in a tri-match on January 16.
GRAND FORKS — When it comes to athletics, geography isn’t always a benefit in attracting those outside the region to Grand Forks and UND.
For new UND volleyball coach David Nguyen, however, his move from New Jersey to North Dakota had a lot to do with location.
“Knowing that there’s a really big hub in recruiting, that as a coach, kind of just threw green flags right away,” said Nguyen, who made his first public comments in Grand Forks on Wednesday in the media room at Ralph Engelstad Arena. “The research I’ve done with my family — and family is a huge thing for me — it’s making sure my family is in a good situation. Everything I’ve researched about Grand Forks and the Midwest, it’s community is the first thing that comes up. That’s really important for me, and I’m excited to be part of that.”
As head coach, Nguyen brought Fairleigh Dickinson to the NCAA tournament in 2022 and won the Northeast Conference (NEC) regular-season championship in 2023.
Nguyen was named NEC coach of the year twice in four seasons at Fairleigh Dickinson. His teams went 9-5, 11-3, 11-3 and 12-4 in the NEC. Before his arrival, Fairleigh Dickinson went 3-11, 2-6, 3-13, 0-14, 1-13 and 1-13 in the NEC.
Nguyen wants to establish a base of recruiting within UND’s traditional footprint.
“We will be strategic with our recruiting process, starting with the regional players within our area,” Nguyen said. “My job is to make sure that we keep the North Dakota players that are quality players and quality for the culture. This whole recruiting process is going to be all over the place, but we do live in the hot bed of volleyball, so our focus will start with Minnesota, along with Wisconsin and Nebraska. There’s going to be a lot of really good volleyball around this area for us to recruit.”
Nguyen said UND’s campus can be a recruiting tool.
“The campus is beautiful,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of research, as well, so I’m able to see the campus while it’s green. I’m excited for the area, and I’m excited to explore a little bit more, as well.”
Nguyen will have a rebuilding project at UND. The Fighting Hawks have posted eight consecutive losing seasons as the program spiraled from a strong mid-major under Ashley Hardee (2009-13) and Mark Pryor (2014-18) to a floundering team in the Summit League.
UND, under previous head coach Jesse Tupac, went 7-20 and 4-12 in the Summit last season. It has not yet won a match at the Summit League tournament since joining the conference in 2018.
“We need to get this program back to where it used to be,” Nguyen said. “I think we can get there. The support and everything that the university has given us, it’s right there. It’s right there for the taking, and we’ve just got to make sure that we move it in the right direction.”
Nguyen said his successful teams at FDU were known for creativity.
“Position-less volleyball is kind of how I come at it,” Nguyen said. “I like players that come in and have the ability to play multiple positions and are able to adapt to different things. I think that’s what we’ve been successful at at my previous school, and I’m looking to do the same thing here at UND. I want to bring in players that are adaptable into different situations.”
UND athletic director Bill Chaves and UND President Andrew Armacost were in attendance for Nguyen’s initial press conference. Nguyen said when he received the call about landing the job, he couldn’t believe it.
“I can’t believe how far my family and I have come throughout this process,” Nguyen said. “I started at the very bottom of the things, being a volunteer assistant, being a manager. Now, it’s just like a big flagship school like UND is offering me a position … I’m just grateful.”
Miller has covered sports at the Grand Forks Herald since 2004 and was the state sportswriter of the year in 2019 (NSMA, NDAPSSA), 2022 (NSMA, NDAPSSA) and 2024 (NDAPSSA).
His primary beat is UND football but also reports on a variety of UND sports and local preps.
He can be reached at (701) 780-1121, tmiller@gfherald.com or on Twitter at @tommillergf.
Former Hallsville standout Pyle signs with Sam Houston volleyball
Published 10:35 am Friday, January 2, 2026
Lauren Pyle, a three-year starter at Hallsville High School and two-year standout at Tyler Junior College, will continue her academic and athletic career at the 4-year level after signing a volleyball national letter of intent with Sam Houston State University recently.
“Sam Houston reached out to me, and that gave me a lot of confidence,” Pyle said of her decision to sign with the Conference USA school located in Huntsville.
“I went to visit, and just liked the environment,” she added. “It felt like family, and I really liked the program they are building there. The campus is awesome, and the program is just a good fit for me. I just felt strongly it was where I wanted to be for the next two years.”
Pyle spent the past two seasons at Tyler Junior College, recording 1,415 assists, 171 kills, 372 digs and 102 aces during that span.
She was the Region XIV Conference Setter of the Year and a first team all-region selection after the 2025 season, recording 995 assists, 122 kills, 50 aces and 285 digs during a season that saw the Apache Ladies finish 17-14 overall and 10-6 in conference play.
“Tyler was awesome,” Pyle said of her time at TJC. “I was able to grow and learn as a player, and was able to become more of a strategic player, a better player and a better all-around athlete.”
Prior to heading to TJC, Pyle was a standout at Hallsville High School – recording 2,975 assists, 1,052 digs, 464 kills, 261 aces and 101 blocks in her final three seasons with the Ladycats.
She played sparingly as a freshman, and then recorded 830 assists, 55 aces, 72 kills, 34 blocks and 246 digs as a sophomore. Pyle had 1,042 assists, 100 aces, 167 kills, 25 blocks and 382 digs as a junior for Hallsville, and capped her high school career by recording 1,103 assists, 106 aces, 225 kills, 42 blocks and 424 digs her senior season.
Pyle said she will be a setter – either in a 6-1 or 5-2 offense – at Sam Houston, and looks forward to taking the next step.
“I plan to go in and fight for my spot,” she said. “They have another setter coming out of high school, but they want my experience that comes with having two years (of college) under my belt. They know how competitive our conference is, and they want my leadership and experience.”
Tyler competed in the Region XIV Conference along with Trinity Valley, Blinn, Panola, Navarro, Lee, Wharton and Coastal Bend.
Sam Houston is a member of Conference USA with UTEP, Western Kentucky, Kennesaw State, Florida International, Liberty, Jacksonville State, New Mexico State, Missouri State, Delaware, Middle Tennessee and Louisiana Tech
Trevor Clevenot has been part of the French men’s national team for more than a decade, during a period that has delivered the greatest results in the programme’s history. Across that time, he has built a reputation based on consistency and reliability rather than visibility.
Even after winning Olympic gold medals in Tokyo and Paris, Clevenot does not speak about success as something that lasts by itself. For him, high-level volleyball remains subject to constant change, a reality he acknowledges when reflecting on the past year with the national team.
Trevor Clevenot shares a moment on court with setter Antoine Brizard and superstar outside hitter Earvin Ngapeth during France’s gold medal run at Paris 2024.
“I think 2025 was a difficult year for our national team. We didn’t manage to reach our objectives,” he said. “Yesterday’s truth is not today’s truth in high-level sport, and especially in volleyball. We will have to go back to work and improve if we want to perform in 2026.”
Clevenot has been a regular presence in the French lineup throughout the most successful era in the team’s history. While others have often taken attacking responsibility, his role has focused on defence, stability and decision-making, particularly in tight moments.
At club level, he is now based in Ankara with Ziraat Bankasi, where he plays alongside stars Nimir Abdel-Aziz of the Netherlands and Poland’s Tomasz Fornal, players he has faced frequently at international level. The shift from opponents to teammates has been straightforward, forged by familiarity and the daily demands of training.
“I was lucky enough to play with them in my previous clubs. They are great players, but above all great people,” he said. “Training every day with top-level players is very inspiring and pushes you to keep improving.”
Life in Turkey has required adjustment after spells in France, Italy and Poland, but Clevenot says he has settled quickly. Living in a different environment has influenced not only his professional routine but also his life away from the court.
“Ankara is a big city, and for me the balance between volleyball and life outside the court is very important,” he said. “I’ve found a very good balance here. You have to adapt to the culture, but that’s also a real source of personal growth.”
Trevor Clevenot stays locked in during Volleyball Nations League action, focused on his role and the details that hold France together.
Looking ahead to 2026, Clevenot does not frame the season around personal targets. With commitments at both club and international level, his approach remains unchanged and focused on consistency rather than outcome.
“2026 will be another very demanding year, both for the club and the national team,” he said. “I don’t set myself specific objectives, but I always try to give the best of myself. The results will be a consequence of our preparation and the level of commitment we put in throughout the season.”
Trevor Clevenot during Volleyball Nations League 2025 action.
Success does not come with a finish line for Trevor Clevenot, only the reality that each season starts again on equal terms.
MOVING ON: Former Hallsville standout Pyle signs with Sam Houston volleyball
Published 8:33 am Friday, January 2, 2026
Lauren Pyle, a three-year starter at Hallsville High School and two-year standout at Tyler Junior College, will continue her academic and athletic career at the 4-year level after signing a volleyball national letter of intent with Sam Houston State University recently.
“Sam Houston reached out to me, and that gave me a lot of confidence,” Pyle said of her decision to sign with the Conference USA school located in Huntsville.
“I went to visit, and just liked the environment,” she added. “It felt like family, and I really liked the program they are building there. The campus is awesome, and the program is just a good fit for me. I just felt strongly it was where I wanted to be for the next two years.”
Pyle spent the past two seasons at Tyler Junior College, recording 1,415 assists, 171 kills, 372 digs and 102 aces during that span.
She was the Region XIV Conference Setter of the Year and a first team all-region selection after the 2025 season, recording 995 assists, 122 kills, 50 aces and 285 digs during a season that saw the Apache Ladies finish 17-14 overall and 10-6 in conference play.
“Tyler was awesome,” Pyle said of her time at TJC. “I was able to grow and learn as a player, and was able to become more of a strategic player, a better player and a better all-around athlete.”
Prior to heading to TJC, Pyle was a standout at Hallsville High School – recording 2,975 assists, 1,052 digs, 464 kills, 261 aces and 101 blocks in her final three seasons with the Ladycats.
She played sparingly as a freshman, and then recorded 830 assists, 55 aces, 72 kills, 34 blocks and 246 digs as a sophomore. Pyle had 1,042 assists, 100 aces, 167 kills, 25 blocks and 382 digs as a junior for Hallsville, and capped her high school career by recording 1,103 assists, 106 aces, 225 kills, 42 blocks and 424 digs her senior season.
Pyle said she will be a setter – either in a 6-1 or 5-2 offense – at Sam Houston, and looks forward to taking the next step.
“I plan to go in and fight for my spot,” she said. “They have another setter coming out of high school, but they want my experience that comes with having two years (of college) under my belt. They know how competitive our conference is, and they want my leadership and experience.”
Tyler competed in the Region XIV Conference along with Trinity Valley, Blinn, Panola, Navarro, Lee, Wharton and Coastal Bend.
Sam Houston is a member of Conference USA with UTEP, Western Kentucky, Kennesaw State, Florida International, Liberty, Jacksonville State, New Mexico State, Missouri State, Delaware, Middle Tennessee and Louisiana Tech
Tully girls volleyball will face undefeated Mount Markham next Wednesday. (Anthony Caimano | Contributing photographer)(Anthony Caimano | Contributing photographer)
Syracuse, N.Y. — Over the holiday break, many girls volleyball teams enjoyed a short break, but the action returns as the new year begins.
Two of the biggest matchups coming up over the next week are between undefeated Mount Markham and one-loss Sauquoit Valley and one-loss Tully.
The Mustangs face the Red Hawks on Tuesday and the rematch of last year’s Class C sectional semifinal against the Black Knights is set for Wednesday.
All three teams are ranked, and the results of these two games will definitely have an impact on the middle of the pack of syracuse.com’s weekly rankings.
Syracuse.com’s girls winter volleyball rankings will run every Thursday through the end of sectionals.
Here’s how the teams land this week.
I’m the managing producer for high school sports coverage at syracuse.com. I’ve been covering Section III athletics for nearly a decade. I graduated from Utica University in 2017 and bring a unique perspective…
