NEW ORLEANS – It didn't take long for Khallifah Rosser to make a big impact on the national NCAA Division II indoor track and field landscape.
 
Rosser, after a sizzling debut at Boise State's Bronco Invitational, was named the National Athlete of the Week for NCAA Division II Men on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association. Rosser, the reigning 400-meter hurdles champion in outdoor track and field, won the indoor 400 meters on Saturday in Boise with a time of 46.63.
 
That time automatically qualifies Rosser for the NCAA Division II indoor championships, which will be held on March 10-11 in Birmingham, Ala.
 
Rosser's time is currently No. 2 in the nation behind Myles Pringle (46.11) and is also the ninth-fastest in Division II history.
 
"He's been working very hard," Cal State LA head coach Tina Fernandes said. "He has set a lot of high goals for himself to surpass what he did last year and he's also very excited about graduating this year and getting his degree."
 
This is Rosser's first experience in indoor track and field after a record-setting season in outdoor track and field at Cal State LA last year. Rosser set new school records in the 400 and 400 hurdles and captured the NCAA Division II 400-meter title.
 
During the summer, Rosser qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials and won his first-round heat on his way to the semi-finals. He then won two gold medals in the 400 hurdles and 4x400 relay at the North American Central American Caribbean U-23 championships.
 
"He ran a little bit faster than I thought he would, running on an indoor banked track for the first time," Cal State LA assistant coach Orentheus Hutcherson said. "He didn't run the race exactly how we wanted him to, but he got the results. I think when we get to New York for our next race, he'll drop his time and run even faster. Now that he's got his first race in, he'll know what to do."
 
The Cal State LA coaching staff put together a makeshift 200-yard track to give the student-athletes a chance to at least get the feel of running on boards prior to the first indoor meet.
 
Rosser could have some company with him at nationals as teammate Ingvar Moseley posted a provisional qualifying time in the 60 hurdles at the Boise meet while winning the event in 8.00. That time is currently fifth in the nation and just off the automatic standard of 7.89.
 
Cal State LA's men's team is currently ranked No. 25 in the nation in the USTFCCA computerized rankings.
 
Cal State LA will return to action on Feb. 3-4 at the Armory Track Invitational in New York.