NEW YORK — Sterling native Tyus Wilson successfully defended his national title Friday, winning the men’s high jump at the 2026 Toyota USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships at Icahn Stadium.
Wilson cleared 2.29 meters — 7 feet, 6 inches — to match his personal best and secure his second consecutive U.S. outdoor championship.
The 23-year-old cleared the winning height on his first attempt before taking three unsuccessful attempts at 2.32 meters, or 7-7¼.
Wilson opened the competition with first-attempt clearances at 2.12 and 2.17 meters. He cleared 2.20 meters on his second attempt, made 2.23 on his first and needed all three attempts to advance past 2.26 meters.
Scottie Vines of Arkansas finished second after clearing a season-best 2.26 meters, or 7-5. Olympic silver medalist Shelby McEwen placed third at 2.20 meters.
The victory continued Wilson’s rise among the top high jumpers in the world. He won his first U.S. outdoor title in August 2025 in Eugene, Oregon, clearing 2.27 meters. He later won the NACAC championship and tied for sixth at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Wilson starred in football, basketball and track and field at Sterling High School. He won three Kansas high jump championships, with the cancellation of the 2020 spring season preventing him from competing for a fourth title. He was ranked as the nation’s top high school high jumper in 2020 and 2021.
Wilson continued his career at Nebraska, where he became a five-time first-team All-American and four-time Big Ten champion. He won the 2025 NCAA indoor high jump championship with a clearance of 2.28 meters and was the NCAA outdoor runner-up in 2024.
He originally set his personal best of 2.29 meters while winning the 2024 Big Ten outdoor championship. The mark ranks third in Nebraska history.
Wilson also placed third at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, but he did not meet the Olympic qualifying standard or ranking requirements to earn a spot on the team sent to Paris.