Carrollton High School senior Khalen Pinkard has been named the 2025-26 Gatorade Georgia Boys Track & Field Player of the Year after a dominant season that established him as one of the nation's premier horizontal jumpers.
The 5-foot-8, 140-pound standout swept the long jump and triple jump titles at the GHSA Class AAAAAA State Championships, helping lead the Trojans to the team state championship.
Pinkard recorded a wind-legal career-best leap of 51 feet, 1.75 inches to capture the triple jump state title, a mark that ranked No. 5 nationally among high school boys in 2026. He also claimed the long jump championship with a winning mark of 24 feet, 9.25 inches, which ranked No. 7 nationally this spring.
Over the course of his high school career, Pinkard amassed 54 victories, won four individual state championships, contributed to two team state titles, and earned two adidas All-American selections.
"Despite his relatively diminutive frame in events where lanky limbs are often the norm, Pinkard is a true unicorn," said Rich Gonzalez, editor of PrepCalTrack. "He parlayed his leg spring and explosiveness into 54 victories in a prep career that included four state titles, two state team championships and two adidas All-American selections."
Away from competition, Pinkard has excelled in the classroom, maintaining an A average while serving as a member of the school's National Honor Society chapter. He has volunteered with the NSPIRE Outreach program, helping collect donations for individuals experiencing homelessness, addiction, and abuse, and has also supported the Little Free Pantries program in his community.
Pinkard will continue both his academic and athletic career this fall after signing a scholarship to compete for the University of Kentucky.
