He wasn't just running. He was flying.
University of South Florida senior sprinter Jaleel Croal clocked a wind-aided 9.75 — at that moment, the NCAA's fastest all-conditions time this season — on May 16 to win the 100-meter dash at the American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Croal's mark lasted exactly one day, until USC's Eddie Nketia went 9.74 at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships.
Still, Croal's accomplishment can't be minimized. It tied for the third-fastest all-conditions 100-meter time in NCAA history.
NCAA Men's 100-Meter Records
(All wind-aided times)
1. 9.69 — Obadele Thompson (UTEP, 1996)
2. 9.74 — Eddie Nketia (USC, 2026)
3. 9.75 — Jaleel Croal (USF, 2026)
(tie) 9.75 — Jordan Anthony (Arkansas, 2025)
(tie) 9.75 — Andre De Grassé (USC, 2015)
Source: Track and Field News.
Croal has established himself as a national-championship contender in the 100 meters, a storied event that has been won by track-and-field immortals such as Ohio State's Jesse Owens (1935/1936), San Jose State's John Carlos (1969), Auburn's Harvey Glance (1976/77), Houston's Carl Lewis (1981), Houston's Leroy Burrell (1990), Tennessee's Justin Gatlin (2001/2002) and Florida State's Walter Dix (2005/2007).
Each of them later captured U.S. Olympic medals.
That's the legendary company that Croal could potentially be keeping.
But first things first.
Croal, also entered in the 200 meters and 4x100 relay, will compete in the May 27-30 NCAA East First Rounds at Lexington, Ky., where the top 12 in each event advance to the June 10-13 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Eugene, Ore.
It's all very heady stuff for Croal, a native of the British Virgin Islands, who has earned a program-record 10 American Conference individual titles. Croal said he was attracted to USF because of the relationship with coaches and the tropical climate. He arrived with "some small goals.''
"I wanted to win a conference medal … any color,'' Croal said. "I won it (the first one) with a relay, so the next goal was winning an individual medal. I feel like I've accomplishing everything in the conference and I've just wanted to stay on top. I cannot accomplish everything, but I have to say that I've come a long way, honestly.''
USF head coach Erik Jenkins, who gave a "Big Dog'' nickname to the 5-foot-9 Croal since his earliest days on campus, said his star sprinter has established a legacy that will be remembered forever.
"When he got here as a freshman, you could see that there was something special in that young man,'' Jenkins said. "He has continued to get better. I'm so proud of that young man. I'm looking forward to him having a great future in the sport and life as a whole.''
Last summer, Croal competed in the 200 meters at Tokyo's World Athletics Championships, where he lined up against 2024 Paris Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana. Croal missed qualifying for the finals by seven-hundredths of a second.
Last season, Croal tripled at the American Conference Outdoors, winning the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay, while being named the meet's Most Outstanding Performer. At the most recent American Conference Outdoors meet, Croal won the 100 and 4x100 relay, while finishing second in the 200 meters with a season-best time of 20.05.
"That man (Croal) is a leader and he has accomplished so much,'' said USF's Kelsey Singleton, a regional qualifier in the 400 meters. "He comes in here and leads us every day. It's amazing to watch the way he works. He motivates me every single day. That guy is special.''
Croal said he still gets a little nervous before each race, but calms himself down with positive self-talk. Consistent results have shaped his belief, but he's still driven like someone with still much to prove.
"I believe in myself,'' Croal said. "All the strength and physical stuff is taken care of, but you also need those mental signs for yourself. I tell myself, 'You can do this.' Or, 'why not you?' If you get in the right (mindset) mentally, the rest follows, I believe.''
If only the freshman version of Croal could have seen into the future. The "small goals'' have become giant accomplishments.
"I think the younger me, he'd be like, 'Whoa, what the heck' … he'd be amazed at what has happened,'' Croal said. "I think he'd be proud. And I am proud. But I'm not done yet. I feel like there's a lot more for me to accomplish. I feel like I'm getting there.''
He's getting there all right — rapidly.
