NSAF LAUNCHES HIGH SCHOOL INITIATIVE WITH USA TRACK & FIELD AND NIKE 

The Nike Elite Program is Committed to Supporting the Next Generation of the Sport 

The National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NSAF) in partnership with USA Track & Field (USATF) announced the Nike Elite Program, a one-of-a-kind inaugural initiative designed to provide comprehensive support for the top United States high school track and field athletes – fueling the next generation of the sport to reach their goals and potential.  

As part of the program powered by the NSAF, each athlete will work with a Nike mentor for holistic support and guidance and have touchpoints with Nike’s professional athletes to learn and hear from the world’s best. Nike will also equip the program’s athletes with the brand’s leading footwear and apparel innovations for training and competition. Additionally, athletes will receive support to compete in key events throughout the year, including Nike Indoor Nationals, Nike Outdoor Nationals, NSAF “select” events such as the Millrose Games, Oregon Relays, Arcadia and Mt. SAC Invitationals, and USATF U20 Championships. 

The Nike Elite Program will support 40 high school athletes each year – with this year’s cohort including 20 male and 20 female athletes from 18 states across sprint, hurdles, throws, jumps, middle distance and distance track and field disciplines. The program will kick-off later this summer with an immersion event at Nike’s World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.

RunnerSpace will give fans an inside look at the Nike Elite Program by rolling out exclusive content throughout the year on nikeelite.runnerspace.com!

The Nike Elite Program athletes for the 2023-2024 school calendar year are as follows:

• Max Armstrong, Vestavia Hills HS, Vestavia Hills, AL, Sr

• ’23 US #6 Junior, 800m (1:50.91)

• PB: 48.50 

• Kimberly Beard, King’s HS, Mukilteo, WA, So

• ‘23 National Champion, Hammer Throw

• US HS Freshman record holder, 176-01
  
  

• Rylee Blade, Santiago of Corona, Corona, CA, Jr

• ‘23 CA State Champion, 3,200m 

• ’23 US #3 Sophomore, 3,200m (10:02.19)

• Mia Brahe-Pedersen, Lake Oswego, OR, Sr

• US #2 Junior All-Time, 200m (22.43) 

• US #4 All-Time, 200m (22.43)

• US #4 All-Time High School, 100m (11.00)

• '23 Toyota USATF Champ Finalist, 100m and 200m

• Xavier Drumgoole, Round Rock HS, Round Rock, TX, Sr

• ’23 US #2, Junior Triple Jump (50-06.75) 

• Samantha Ennin, John Paul II (Plano, TX), McKinney, TX, Jr

• 4-Time TAPPS State 6A Champion

• PB: 41-09 (+6.3), 20-01 (NWI)

• Maddie Fey, Killeen Chaparral HS, Killeen, TX, Sr

• 3-Time UIL State 5A Champion

• 2-Time National Champion, Discus

• ‘23 USATF U20 Champion, Discus (168-07)

• US #3 Junior All-Time, Discus (182-04)

• Skyler Franklin, Western HS, Miramar, FL, So

• PB: 52.52, 23.38 (+2.8)

• JaiCieonna Gero-Holt, Emerald Ridge HS, Puyallup, WA, Jr

• US #1 Sophomore All-Time, Heptathlon (5,552)

• US #4 All-Time Performer (5,552)

• ’23 USATF U20 Champion, Heptathlon 

• ’23 USATF U20 Champion, High Jump 

• PB: HJ 6-00.5 

• Maurice Gleaton, Langston HS, Fairburn, GA, Jr

• US #1 Sophomore All-Time, 100m (10.14)

• US #2 Sophomore All-Time, 200m (20.52)

• ’23 National Champion, 200m

• Hayden Gorovitz, Desert Vista HS, Chandler, AZ, Sr

• 2-Time AIA State Champion, Javelin

• PB: 221-07.75

• Byron Grevious, Phillips Exeter Academy, Southport, CT, Sr

• US #3 Junior All-Time, 5,000m (14:04.44)

• 4-time NEPSTA D1 Champion

• Rylee Hampton, Cypress Ridge HS, Houston, TX, Sr

• ’23 UIL State 6A Champion, 100mH (13.64)

• ’23 Texas Relays Champion, 100mH (13.18)

• Jane Hedengren, Timpview HS, Provo, UT, Jr

• US #1 All-Time, 2-Mile (9:54.38)

• US #2 All-Time, Mile (4:35.69)

• Neil Howard III, Taconic Hills CSD, East Chatham, NY, Sr

• ’23 US #1, Decathlon (7,153)

• ‘23 National Champion

• Juriad Hughes Jr, Irondale Sr HS, Coon Rapids, MN Sr

• 2-Time National LJ Champion

• PB: 24-11.75

• Kendrick Jones Jr, Lake Belton HS, Temple, TX, So

• ’23 UIL State 5A Champion, 200m (20.57, +2.6)

• PB: 10.41

• Jayden Keys, Obra D. Tompkins HS, Katy, TX, Sr

• ’23 US #1 Junior, 110m Hurdles (13.62)

• ’23 US #3 Junior, 300m Hurdles (36.83)

• Patrick Koon, Leon HS, Tallahassee, FL, Sr 

• US #6 All-Time Indoors, 5,000m (14:11.92)

• US #10 Junior All-Time 3,200m (8:44.95)

• Elizabeth Leachman, Samuel V. Champion HS, San Antonio, TX, So 

• US #1 Freshman All-Time, 2-Mile (9:57.65) 

• US #1 Freshman All-Time, 3,000m (9:19.41)

• Jaden Lippett, Winter Haven HS, Winter Haven, FL, Sr

• 2-Time Florida State 4A Champion, Triple Jump

• ’23 US #3 Junior, Triple Jump (50-06) 

• Zariel Macchia, William Floyd HS, Shirley, NY, Jr

• US #3 Sophomore All-Time, 5,000m (16:17.29)

• Tyler Mathews, Red Mountain HS, Mesa, AZ, Sr

• ‘23 US #1 Junior, 800m (1:48.72)

• 3-Time Arizona State D1 Champion 

• PB: 48.88

• Jathiyah Muhammad, Tracy, CA, Sr

• ’23 USATF U20 Championship, Pole Vault 

• US #4 Junior All-Time PV (14-02)

• ‘22 CIF State Champion 

• Sidi Njie, Westlake HS, Atlanta, GA, Jr

• US #2 Sophomore All-Time, 400m (45.46)

• US #19 All-Time, 400m (45.46)  

• Owen Powell, Mercer Island HS, Mercer Island, WA, Jr

• ‘23 US #1 Sophomore, 800m (1:50.72)

• WA State 3A Champion, 1600m 

• Xai Ricks, Long Beach Poly Tech, Long Beach, CA, Sr

• ’23 US #1 Junior, 400m (46.06)

• ’23 US #3 Junior, 800m (1:49.19)

• PB: 21.10 (+4.6), 46.06

• Sophia Rodriguez, Mercer Island HS, Mercer Island, WA, Fr

• World Record holder age 14, 2-mile (10:12.33) 

• World Record holder age 14, 5,000m (16:22.30)

• Bryce Ruland, Waterford Union HS, Waterford, WI, Sr

• ’23 US #1, Discus (213-09)

• ‘23 National Champion, Discus 

• Aleesa Samuel, Somerset Academy (Pembroke Pines, FL), Southwest Ranches, FL, Jr

• 4-Time Florida State 2A Champion

• PB 11.41 (+3.2), 23.84 (+1.3), 13.26 (-2.0)

• Maira Scott, Springfield HS, Springfield, Holland, OH, Sr

• ’23 US #2 Junior, 200m (23.20)

• ’23 US #3 Junior, 100m (11.41) 

• Sophia Scott, Omaha Burke HS, Omaha, NE, Jr

• ’23 US #1 Junior, Javelin (164-11)

• Clay Shively, Wichita Trinity Academy, Wichita, KS, Sr

• US #4 Junior  All Time Mile indoors (4:04.95)

• PB: 4:01.47

• Jonathan Simms, Allen HS, McKinney, TX, Jr

• US HS Sophomore and age 16 record holder, 400m (45.12)

• ‘23 National Champion, 400m 

• Ben Smith, Hortonville HS, New London, WI, Sr

• ’23 US #1 Shot Put (68-10.5)

• 3-Time Wisconsin State D1 SP Champion

• Skylynn Townsend, Rockhill HS, Prosper, TX, Sr

• ‘23 National Indoor Champion, Triple Jump (43-06.5)

• 2-Time UIL State 6A Champ

• Rachael Uvieghara, Palm Harbor University, Dunedin, FL, Sr

• ’23 US #2 Junior, 100m (11.38)

• ‘23 US #4 Junior, 200m (23.32)

• Jelani Watkins, Klein Forest HS, Houston, TX, Sr

• 2-Time UIL State 6A Champion, 200m

• ’23 US #3 Junior, 200m (20.54)

• PB: 10.21 (+3.7)

• Chelsi Williams, George Jenkins HS, Lakeland, FL, Jr 

• ’23 US #2 Sophomore, 100mH (13.44) 

• PB: 61.49 (400mH), 41-01.75

• Emily Wisniewski, Crescent Valley, Corvallis, OR, Jr

• US #1 Sophomore All-Time, 5,000m (16:10.16)

• 5-time Oregon State 5A Champion

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About the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation, Inc.

The National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NSAF) is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1990, with the mission to inspire and empower student athletes on and off the track.  The NSAF supports high school and junior-aged track and field athletes through national high school competitions, including Nike Indoor and Nike Outdoor Nationals; The Great American XC Festival and HBCU Challenge and the Nike XC Town Twilight. The NSAF provides approximately $250,000 in grants annually.  For more information about the NSAF, please visit NationalScholastic.org.

About USATF

USA Track & Field (USATF) is the national governing body for track and field, long-distance running, and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country's No. 1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org.