Ford Tabbed to Bowerman Preseason Watch List
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Jan. 8, 2025) – South Carolina Track & Field standout JaMeesia Ford has been named to The Bowerman Preseason Watch List, as announced by The Bowerman Advisory Board on Wednesday afternoon.
The Bowerman debuted in 2009 and is named after former Oregon Head Coach Bill Bowerman and is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female NCAA track & field athletes in the nation.
Ford was named to each of the seven Bowerman Watch Lists in 2024 as a true freshman and received votes on the semifinalist list following to the NCAA Outdoor Championship. Now entering her sophomore season, Ford starts the campaign on the preseason watch list for the first time in her collegiate career.
The Fayetteville, N.C. native etched her name into the South Carolina record books in 2024, winning a pair of NCAA Indoor titles in the women’s 200 meter and the 4×400 meter relay. She earned five First Team All-American honors as a true freshman last season, and she earned SEC Freshman Runner of the Year for the indoor and outdoor season as well as earning USTFCCCA Southeast Region Track Athlete of the Year for both indoor and outdoor campaigns.
Ford carries with her the fastest U20 time in the 200m short track with a mark of 22.34 set at the NCAA Indoor Championship, running the fourth fastest collegiate women’s 200m to win the individual title. Ford was also the anchor leg for the women’s 4x400m relay team just 30 minutes after winning her individual title, running a 50.74 split in the closing 400 meters.
Ford currently holds the individual program records of the: indoor 200m (22.34), indoor 300m (35.83) and the outdoor 200m (22.08). In addition, she was the anchor leg on three relay squads that set new Gamecock program records: indoor 4x400m (3:26.05), outdoor 4x100m (42.46) and the indoor 4x400m (3:24.86).
Joining Ford on The Bowerman Preseason Watch List are Kaylyn Brown (Arkansas), Rachel Glenn (Arkansas), Axelina Johansson (Nebraska), Doris Lemngole (Alabama), Brianna Lyston (LSU), Hilda Olemomoi (Florida), Michaela Rose (LSU), Jaida Ross (Oregon), Juliette Whittaker (Stanford).
The next Bowerman Watch List update will be revealed on Wednesday, Feb. 5 (women) and Thursday, Feb. 6 (men).
Ford and the rest of the Gamecocks will open the home slate this Saturday with the Gamecock Opener beginning at 10 a.m. at the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex.
