Noah Lyles, Cole Hocker, and other top athletes will have another chance to bring home some hardware before the season concludes at the World Athletics Indoor Championships. The 2026 USATF Indoor Championships, being held from February 28 – March 1, will also act as the gateway and the primary selection meet for the Worlds before elite athletes move to the outdoor season.
Previewing the Field for the 2026 USAFT Indoor Championships 2026
Lyles began the season with a gold medal-winning performance in the 300m at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational, shifting from his usual 60m, where he has had the most success indoors. He clocked 32.60 seconds to beat a mostly collegiate field in his first race at that distance since 2017.
Lyles then moved on to the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, where he competed in the 300m but was outpaced by Jereem Richards, ultimately settling for the silver medal.
READ MORE: Noah Lyles Sends Powerful Message After Season Opener, Reveals Motivation Fueling His 2026 Campaign
On the other hand, distance runner Cole Hocker was nothing but phenomenal in 2026 as of yet. He won the 2000m at the Hokie Invitational, the two-mile at the Millrose Games, the 1000m at the Doc Hale Invitational, and the mile at the Sound Running Invite.
An Olympic gold medalist and holder of the area record in the 1500m at the Paris Games, Hocker broke Nuguse’s American record in the short track mile at the Sound Running Invite and is now just behind indoor world record holder Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
Lyles and Hocker will be joined by Olympic bronze medalist Nuguse, along with other athletes such as Ronnie Baker, Trayvon Bromell, Nikki Hiltz, and Ajee Wilson, to round out the deep field.
How and Where to Watch the USATF Indoor Championships ft. Noah Lyles
The races on February 28 and March 1 will be streamed on USATF.tv, and NBC will broadcast them on television from 1:00 p.m. ET to 3:00 p.m. ET on the second day.
Lyles Will Be Among the Athletes To Watch at the USATF Indoor Championships 2026
Lyles, one of the top gold medal prospects in the National Indoors, rose to the upper ranks with his three-peat feat at the 2023 World Championships. He cemented his position as the fastest in the 100m by winning the Olympic gold in Paris 2024.
Although he missed the 200m due to health issues, Lyles bounced back at the 2025 World Championships after a slow start to the season, and matched Usain Bolt’s record of becoming one of the two men with four consecutive titles in the half-lap.
The American icon’s resume also boasts a couple of fashionable appearances and campaigns, especially with his sponsor brand, Adidas. He has often been the frontrunner in promoting the global growth of track and field and inspiring the younger generation of athletes to dream big.
