INDIANAPOLIS -- Breaking the men's T46 Para Athletics world record* in the 800, Tahmar Upshaw (Murfreesboro, TN/USATF Tennessee) earned recognition as the 15th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2026.
Upshaw, who is a redshirt junior at Austin Peay, ran 1:48.80 to finish second in the Open A race at the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific, chopping more than two seconds off the WPA ratified world record of 1:51.82 that was set in 2012 by Austria's Gunther Matzinger to take gold at the London Paralympic Games.
Other top performances from last week:
Sydney Barta set a women's WPA Americas Regional Record in the T64 200 with a 26.37 at Mt. SAC. She bettered her own record of 26.70.
Jane Hedengren set an outdoor collegiate record with her 14:50.50 to win the women's 5000 at the Bryan Clay Invitational.
Simeon Birnbaum of Oregon set a collegiate record in the men's 1500 at the Oregon Team Invitational, winning by more than seven seconds in 3:31.69 to take more than a second off the previous CR.
Alexis Brown won the women's long jump at the Jones Memorial in Florida with a leap of 7.07/23-2.5, moving to No. 7 on the U.S. all-time performer list.
Texas Tanner became the No. 2 all-time collegiate men's hammer performer, breaking the American collegiate record with a 78.87/258-9 at Long Beach to break the previous American CR that was set in 1986.
Tate Taylor broke the national high school record in the 200 with a 20.05 at the Jones Memorial. He broke the previous record of 20.09 set by Noah Lyles in 2016.
* - all Para records subject to verification by World Para Athletics
Now in its 25th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
2026 Winners: January 15, Jonathan Simms; January 22, Michelle Rohl; January 29, Josh Hoey; February 5, Roisin Willis; February 12, Jordan Geist; February 19, Cole Hocker; February 26, Cynthia McNamee; March 5, Chase Jackson; March 12, Lauren Harris; March 19, Garrett Kaalund; March 26, Cooper Lutkenhaus; April 2, Rudy Winkler.
We welcome your nominations!
To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to communications@usatf.org.
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