Max Thomas Places 3rd in 200m, Speaks on Going Pro, Injury Comeback & Lane 9 Final | Post-Race Interview 2026 USATF

Mon, Jul 27, 2026

First-year pro Max Thomas executes out of lane nine to secure 3rd place in the Men's 200m Final at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Thomas opens up about surviving a brutal 5-race weekend, coming back from mid-season injuries, celebrating his USC teammate Garrett Kaalund's victory, and reflecting on the major lessons learned during his rookie professional season.

Video Transcript

I'm just happy the weekend's over, to be honest.

Do, do you want me to hold that?

I'm just happy the weekend's over.

I think I was like sixth qualifier or seventh or something like that.

But I just kind of did what I had to do to get through.

Got lane nine, but that's better than inside, so I'll take it, you know?

It's like, and I'm happy that my brother came away with the win.

You know, like I love Garrett like my brother, so he, he deserves it all.

Were there any adjustments you made coming into this?

No.

What did you and Coach Jamie talk about prior to this race?

Actually, his, flight leaves soon, so he was like, "Look, like right after you run, you gotta scoot me to the airport."

So that was what we talked about before the race.

But nah, we was just-- he was just telling me to make sure I just focus on going forward.

Yeah, we didn't really have too much to talk about.

You know, this is my fifth race of the weekend, so we've already made all the adjustments, you know?

So yeah.

Any plans for the indoor season or are you focusing on outdoor right now?

Yeah, I don't think, I don't think I'll be going, Yes, sir, boy.

I don't think I'll be going in the, in the one or the two, but maybe for the mixed relay.

But, like I missed a bulk of the season, like, while I was hurt, so, just kind of like getting my feet back under me and then see what races I can get into going forward.

You came back really strong, coming back off an injury not too long ago.

Honestly, I'm really just happy to be here.

You know, my first time really sprinting far was a couple weeks ago, so, it's really just all just kind of talent and, you know, what we built prior to the injury.

So yeah, just happy to be here.

You've obviously been making the transition from college to pro.

Any advice to some of these other collegiate athletes who may be taking this risk and this jump to pro this year?

Yeah, I mean, I don't really see it as taking a risk.

You know, it was, it was really a, a, like not to say like a safe decision, but you know, it was really like, you know, like I'm, I'm with my coach in college, so like I was able to stay like with my coach.

I, I got like a lot of progression under.

So yeah, like and the gear is amazing.

You know, the brand treats me well, they treat us all well.

So I don't really see it as a risk at all.

Yeah.

And obviously you're working with your coach, Jamie, what have you learned so far from working with him and what's helped your relationship?

Yeah, I mean the, the coaching part about it, you know, I haven't really learned too much.

You know, we've just been able to build our relationship.

But like as far as being a pro, you know, like I'm, I'm very glad I went pro this year.

You know, like I, I could have went back to college, like I still had two more years left.

But I figured like if the goal is to be successful, like as a pro, you know, then like I should go pro and, you know, like learn it.

So I've definitely like learned a lot this year just being on the circuit, you know, like getting into races and not getting into races.

Like stuff like behind the scenes and stuff like that.

So like I'm gonna definitely take, you know, like these lessons like that I've learned this year into 'twenty-seven and 'twenty-eight.

As a sprinter, you've got to lean out, you've got to take advantage of this kind of smooth push you over the top.

What does quality mean in the process of getting ready for a race?

Yeah, that, that's, that's the biggest lesson.

You know, definitely that's probably something like that I learned like sophomore year of college.

Where I was like, damn, you know, like these, these college guys and these pro guys, you know, they're very strong, very, very smart, and they know like what they're doing.

But you gotta be very, very process-oriented, 'cause if you get to the meet day, like if you're not prepared, there's nothing you can do like at that point.

So, you know, like when we get to, you know, like meets like this, th-there's not too much that we're changing, you know?

It's just, it's just, you know, like, like taking like what you built for the whole year and putting it on track right now.

Well, congrats.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.