We may only be halfway through January, but the big performances have been coming strong and steady. We expect a big shakeup this weekend after the VA Showcase, live exclusively on MileSplit/FloTrack, but we wanted to set the scene heading into the biggest weekend yet.
We've already seen great action across the country, from Texas dipping its toes into competition to some of the largest volume meets in the country up in the Tri-State area. Familiar favorites and rising stars have made themselves heard alike.
MileSplit has taken a deep dive into the achievements and potential of these athletes, and have ranked them across disciplines. This list reflects how we feel the National Championships will shake out later this Season, and who will have the most impressive performances between them
We profile three new names to know below, as the list is always in flux.
Be sure to also check out the full list linked below as well.
MileSplit 50 Newcomers
Justin Arogundade (Kell, GA)
What a way to cap off a competition. The senior from Georgia has been a solid performer the past two years, but little predicted this breakthrough. At the North Texas Showcase, the triple jumper came to compete. He had a two-foot personal best of 50ft 2inches to kick off the competition. It put the field on notice. He fouled the next two jumps, and headed into finals as the target. Another foul to start the competition, and then Miles Nesmith snuck past him, with a mark of 50-2.25. Now on notice, Arogundade answered back with a massive leap of 51-3, adding another foot to his personal best, and capturing the National Lead. The mark is futher than anything achieved in 2025, but we'll need to see that consistency before he bounces up the ranks even higher.
Brady Pineo (Wesley Chapel, FL)
Like Texas, Florida uses the indoor season sparingly, but when they do compete, the ranks shake up. Pineo has raced twice this season, but his most recent effort at the Galleria Games etched his name high up the rankings. Competing in the 200m, he became the second fastest on the year in the event, only trailing Tate Taylor. His 20.92 is his first time under 21seconds wind-legal, and only his second time all-conditions. It sets the scene well for what's to come.
Ryan Evans (East Greenwich, RI)
The Weight Throw scene lives and dies in one of the smallest States in the Country. Rhode Island has been the proving ground for the event, so it's no surprise it routinely produces the National Leaders. Shamrock Thoun came into the Season as the top returner, but came up against a rising star at the Beantown Classic. Trading successively further throws, it was the number 6 top returner who had the major breakthrough. He pulled out a 7-foot personal best to win the competition, and set a new National Leader at 81-10.75.
We may only be halfway through January, but the big performances have been coming strong and steady. We expect a big shakeup this weekend after the VA Showcase, live exclusively on MileSplit/FloTrack, but we wanted to set the scene heading into the biggest weekend yet.
We've already seen great action across the country, from Texas dipping its toes into competition to some of the largest volume meets in the country up in the Tri-State area. Familiar favorites and rising stars have made themselves heard alike.
MileSplit has taken a deep dive into the achievements and potential of these athletes, and have ranked them across disciplines. This list reflects how we feel the National Championships will shake out later this Season, and who will have the most impressive performances between them