YOU THINK YOU’VE HEARD this song before? That’s because you have, with Mondo Duplantis providing the men’s melody. For a history of our undercover AOYs through the years, go here: https://trackandfieldnews.com/compilations/.
Our 2026 awards:
World Men: Mondo Duplantis (Sweden)
Mondo moved into ultra-elite territory with his fourth No. 1 in the last half-dozen years. The only previous 4-time winner was Mondo’s mentor, Renaud Lavillenie. Duplantis had only 3 meets and won them all in producing yet another WR plus the No. 3 indoor performance ever. His selection for the top spot was an easy one.
Joining Duplantis as a WR-setter was versatile Swiss Simon Ehammer, with the highest heptathlon score ever. He earns Honorable Mention status, as do the U.S.’s two WC gold winners, sprinter Jordan Anthony and halfmiler Cooper Lutkenhaus. A nod also to another American, 800 WR setter Josh Hoey.
The 6 most recent winners: ’25— Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway); ’24 — Grant Holloway (US); ’23 — Duplantis ’22 — Duplantis; ’21 — Ryan Crouser (US); ’20 — Duplantis.
U.S. Men: Jordan Anthony (adidas)
The two American WC gold winners, Anthony and Lutkenhaus battled it out here. World 60 leader Anthony gets the nod as he moved to =No. 4 on the all-time world list. Lutkenhaus moved “only” to No. 6 and leads the Honorable Mention crew.
It was a great year for middle-distance stars, with Josh Hoey claiming the 800’s World Record and Cole Hocker moving to No. 2 on the all-time lists in the 1500 and mile. Hocker also claimed an AR in the little-run 2000, then Hobbs Kessler (and Grant Fisher) crushed that time by breaking not only the U.S. best but also the World Record.
Khaleb McRae equaled the AR in the 400 (and it appears likely his time will be ratified as the WR), then went on to become one of just three Americans to pick up a WC silver.
The 5 most recent winners: ’25 — Josh Hoey (adidas); ’24 — Grant Holloway (adidas); ’23 — Ryan Crouser (Nike); ’22 — Holloway; ’21 — Crouser.
Collegiate Men: Colin Sahlman (Northern Arizona)
Showing unusual range, the SoCal native eclipsed the CR in the 800, then went on to win the NCAA title in the 3000. His new 800 standard took down one of the oldest marks in the books, the venerable mark established by Virginia’s Paul Ereng at the ’89 Worlds.
Plenty of other CR setters to fill the HM ranks: Kayinsola Ajayi (Auburn) twice tied the 60 best, USC’s Garrett Kaalund claimed the 200 topper (also garnering the AR) and Ajayi’s teammate Ja’Kobe Tharpe moved to No. 3 on the all-time world list.
Additionally, Ryan Johnson (Iowa) earned CR status in the weight and Oregon’s Peyton Bair produced the highest lo-altitude total ever in the heptathlon.
The 5 most recent winners: ’25 — Ethan Strand (North Carolina); ’24 — Christopher Morales Williams (Georgia); ’23 — Kyle Garland (Florida); ’22 — Trey Cunningham (Florida State); ’21 — KC Lightfoot (Baylor).
HS Boys: Quincy Wilson (Bullis, Potomac, Maryland)
Wilson wrapped up a spectacular return to the top spot. He was the narrow runner-up last year after having won as a soph. The 400 was his key event, of course, with a national record that broke his own standard and was part of his having 3 of the 8 fastest times ever.
He was also brilliant in the 500, cranking not only a new national record but also 3 of the 4 fastest times ever. He was also fifth-fastest in the 300.
A trio of recordsetters were cited in the HM department: Tate Taylor (Harlan, San Antonio) in the 300, and triple jumpers Yevhen Zhmailo (Lake Washington, Kirkland, Washington) and Miles Nesmith (Central, Memphis). Also, Marcelo Mantecon (Belen, Miami) did not lead the nation in a single event, but his four NIN wins constitute one of the best big-meet performances ever.
The 5 most recent winners: ’25 — Owen Powell (Mercer Island, Washington); ’24 — Wilson; ’23 — Connor Burns (Southern Boone, Ashland, Missouri); ’22 — Will Sumner (Woodstock, Georgia); ’21 — Jaylen Slade (IMG, Bradenton, Florida).
