TAMPA, FlA., MARCH 5, 2025 — University of South Florida track and field standouts Saminu Abdul-Rasheed and Kobe Babin have officially qualified for the NCAA Indoor National Championships, set for March 14-15 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Abdul-Rasheed earned his spot in the 60-meter dash after clocking a program-record-tying time of 6.57 seconds at the Windy City Invitational on Feb. 15. Last year's national finish earned Abdul-Rasheed first-team All-American honors, making him the Bulls' first male track athlete to receive such recognition since 2012.

A dominant force on the track, Abdul-Rasheed has cemented his legacy in USF history with standout performances. He was named the Most Valuable Performer at the 2025 American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, winning titles in the 60-meter and 200-meter events.

Babin, USF's record-breaking pole vaulter, secured his national qualification with a historic clearance of 5.58 meters (18 feet, 3.75 inches) at the Arkansas Qualifier on Feb. 21, setting a new program record. A three-time American Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week honoree, Babin has consistently ranked among the top-20 nationally in pole vault. His relentless pursuit of excellence has led him to set and break his own school record three times this season.

Additionally, Babin is a back-to-back indoor conference champion in pole vault, further cementing his legacy in USF's track and field program.

Up Next:
The NCAA Indoor National Championships will conclude the indoor season. The Bulls will begin their outdoor season, competing in the Tampa Distance Classic on Friday, March 7. 
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ABOUT USF TRACK AND FIELD 
The USF men's track and field team claimed both the 2024 and the 2025 Indoor AAC Championships. Additionally, the Bulls also won the 2024 Outdoor AAC Championships. This past season, 10 Bulls athletes earned All-American honors: Shevioe Reid, Shaniya Benjamin, Gabriel Moronta, Nathan Metelus, Terren Peterson, Amenda Saint Louis, Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, Goodness Iredia, Zahria Allers-Liburd, and Tre'Sean Bouis. Romaine Beckford also represented USF as he won the 2023 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships in the men's high jump.
The Bulls' achievements extended to individual accolades, with Saminu Abdul-Rasheed winning the 2025 Indoor Most Valuable Performer and Nikodem Pochopien winning Freshman of the Year. Additionally, Markel Jones won the 2024 AAC Indoor Freshman of the Year award, and Jaleel Coral was named the 2024 AAC Indoor Most Valuable Performer. The coaching team also received high honors, earning the 2024 and 2025 AAC Indoor Staff of the Year award. USF boasts a remarkable track record, with 56 All-America selections and at least one All-American honoree in 10 of the past 12 years. In 2021, eight athletes combined for 11 All-American distinctions. Tampa native Shaniya Benjamin set a program milestone by earning three All-American honors during the 2021 outdoor season, while triple jumper Matthew O'Neal, a 2016 graduate, became USF's first six-time NCAA All-American. USF has also seen two NCAA runner-up finishes since 2013: O'Neal (triple jump, 2016) and Courtney Anderson (high jump, 2013). Head coach Erik Jenkins, who took the reins in July 2019, guided the team to seven program records and 40 top-10 all-time program marks during the 2021 outdoor season. Additionally, USF has hosted significant events at its Track and Field Stadium, including the 2018 NCAA East Preliminary and the 2021 and 2023 AAC Outdoor Championships.