Indian Long Jumper Lokesh Sathyanathan Claims Top Spot In NCAA With Record-Breaking Leap

Last Updated:March 14, 2026, 17:47 IST

Lokesh Sathyanathan won gold in men's long jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a jump of 8.21m, setting a new indoor national record. He's now third all-time in India.

Young Indian athlete Lokesh Sathyanathan has etched his name in the record books by securing the gold medal in the men’s long jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships held in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

With a remarkable jump of 8.21m, Lokesh not only set a new indoor national record but also climbed to third place on the all-time list of Indian long jumpers. Only Jeswin Aldrin (8.42m) and Murali Sreeshankar (8.41m) have achieved longer jumps.

Lokesh, a student at Tarleton State University, achieved this feat during his fourth attempt in the finals, securing the top spot with an indoor national record jump of 8.21m.

He outperformed De’Aundre Ward from the University of Southern Mississippi, who finished second with an 8.20m leap, and Tafadzwa Chikomba from Kansas State University, who secured third place with a jump of 8.15m.

“I’m grateful to God because I know nothing is possible without Him and of course my family back home (in Bengaluru) and my coach, who is my family here," Lokesh expressed to The Stride Report following his achievement, which marked him as the fourth Indian to win the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships, following Mohinder Singh Gill, Vikas Gowda, and Tejaswin Shankar.

Previously, Lokesh had secured fifth place at last season’s NCAA Outdoors.

His final leap of 8.17m on Friday significantly surpassed his previous personal best of 8.02m. Lokesh has garnered attention before, with multiple junior national titles and a representation of India at the 2018 World Athletics U20 Championships.

“My coach always believes in me no matter what… and I would also like to thank everyone in my team because it’s like a family and every day we work in there… put in the hard work and push each other and reach our limits.

“Now, here we are winning the national titles, so I’m thankful to God and my coach Carter; I love him," he added.

Reflecting on Friday’s competition, he said, “I think 26’11" was the leading jump until the fourth (attempt) and then I got 26’11-1/2", which is like 8.21m — which is my personal best as well… so that is it," he said.

“It’s got to be a very special moment because I always dedicate everything to my mom up there, because I’ve given a lot of words and commitments to my mom. The last time I saw her… so it’s obviously a special moment because when I go home, I am not just going back home with my PB but going back with my national title. My mom would be proud; I know she is proud up there."

Lokesh’s mother passed away in 2021 due to COVID-19 complications.

“It was pretty much unfortunate. I didn’t know it was coming. It was during the second Covid wave, and that’s when I decided to come back here. That’s when mom said, ‘go follow your dreams,’ and show me what you can do. It was pretty heart-breaking and I said ‘if that’s what my mom wants, then I’m going for it’," said Lokesh, whose father was a footballer and his sister a national-level 400-metre runner.

He noted that the competition venue has been a favourable place for him.

“I was ranked 8th all over NCAA and 28th in the world, and this track is special to me because I came back to do the invitational competition and I did my PB in the indoors and it’s even more special for me today. I know the big things are coming (for me).

“My coach believed in me he said ‘hey you have all the possibilities to win’ and I did that."

News sports other-sports Indian Long Jumper Lokesh Sathyanathan Claims Top Spot In NCAA With Record-Breaking Leap

Read More