ASU's own Dayton Carlson outran not just his competitors but set the fastest time by any NCAA Division I athlete this season. He set a new program record in the 800, delivering a record-breaking performance that redefined the program standard.
Carlson's milestone run marks a defining moment, establishing him as a top contender in this program. The previous record, which was 1:46.72 set in June 2022 by Carlson during his freshman year, fell as soon as the graduate student touched the track in 2026.
Not only did he lower it to 1:45.57, but the only person he was racing was his freshman self. His dedication to improvement and relentless work ethic have set a new bar for what is possible for current and future Sun Devils.
The record breaker didn't come out of nowhere. Carlson's progression this season has been steady, each race shaving off time and building confidence while keeping consistency. Carlson's performance highlighted his individual talent, and it also showed his growth and momentum within ASU's track and field program.
"I set the school record as a freshman, and since then, have not been able to PR (personal record)," Carlson said. "It's great to be back on that list and bettering my own record."
Carlson is a redshirt senior from Gilbert, Arizona. He is known for his strength in distance running and has been with ASU since he left high school.
His track journey started before college at Casteel High School. Paired with the track team, he is also a star in cross country. In his sophomore year of college, he qualified for the Division I West Region Cross Country Championships and set a new PR in the 10k, running 30:33.3.
Throughout his long track journey, with many joyful moments and awards, he gave his favorite memory to his freshman year when he really learned it all.
"Being able to grow my freshman year and going to nationals and being on that kind of stage really set the tone for my confidence level going into the next couple years and into now," Carlson said.
He doesn't just thank himself for how far he has come, but also the impact of his teammates when things get hard.
"It's helped me learn to trust the process," Carlson said.
While his teammates have made an impact, the five coaches he has had throughout this journey have also certainly made him better, each in their own way. With his time at ASU coming to an end, he savors all the experience he has gained.
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"It's been a lot, but every coach has a different way of training to get to the same time," Carlson said. "I've been able to better myself with every coach, and now running 1:45 is awesome with another coach."
Carlson is currently in a master's program for real estate development while he runs track, considering the sport as a possible lifetime career.
"(I'll) either work in the real estate development realm, with either a home builder or commercial builder, or go pro for running," Carlson said.
Carlson didn't just break a record; he reset the standard for what's possible at ASU and in the world of track and field. His achievements have attracted attention not only from the Sun Devil community but also from the national media.
If this race proved anything, it's that Carlson isn't done chasing faster times or bigger moments. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on him to see just how far his determination and talent can take him.
Edited by Alan Deutschendorf, Senna James and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporter at leevans4@asu.edu and follow @LexiEvans_804 on X.
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Lexi is freshman studying sports journalism and minoring in public relations. This is her first semester working with the state press. She has also worked with Blaze Radio, Sun Devil Daily and Inferno Intel.
