NSAF Announces Nike Elite Program Participants for the 2025-2026 Season
National Record Holders Cooper Lutkenhaus and Tate Taylor lead the group.
Westwood, MA – The National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NSAF), USATF, and Nike are proud to announce the members of the Nike Elite Program powered by the NSAF. This is the third year of the ground-breaking program that provides comprehensive support for 43 of the United States’ top high school track and field athletes for the 2025-2026 school calendar year.
The Nike Elite Program, powered by NSAF, is centered around five core elements meant to equip the athlete with the best support system for him/her to achieve their goals and become competitive at an international level.
The five core elements are:
Guidance. A dedicated, highly qualified program manager will serve as a touchstone for Nike Elite Program athletes throughout the year.
Product. Nike, the global leader in footwear and apparel, will provide training and competition apparel and footwear to the Nike Elite Program athletes throughout the program.
Mentorship. Nike-sponsored professional athletes and collegiate athletes who have completed the Program will serve as mentors for Nike Elite Program athletes.
Opportunity. Provide support to compete in highly competitive and national championship events throughout the year, including Nike Indoor Nationals, Nike Outdoor Nationals, NSAF “select” events such as the Millrose Games, Arcadia Invitational, and Mt. SAC Invitationals, and USATF U20 Championships.
Community. Throughout the program, athletes have the opportunity to develop relationships with peers in their event group and across the sport.
The 43 athletes will be invited to a Kick-Off Event at the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, from July 18-21, 2025. There, they will learn about the year-long program, tour the Nike World Headquarters, meet the Nike Elite Program staff and other Nike Elite program athletes, and more.
The Nike Elite Program team is composed of athletes from 19 states across sprint, hurdles, throws, jumps, and distance track and field disciplines. Thirteen athletes return to the program, with four athletes returning for the third time: Sophia Rodriguez, Elizabeth Leachman, Kimberly Beard, and Kendrick Jones, Jr.
Texas has the largest number of athletes with 13 selections, with Oregon and Washington next best with three.
Six athletes ranked number-one in the US at the end of the season were selected:…
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