Ford Earns Spot on The Bowerman Watch List
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Feb. 7, 2024) – South Carolina Track & Field freshman phenom JaMeesia Ford has turned heads early in her collegiate career for the Gamecocks. Her performance thus far has now been solidified by her appearance on The Bowerman Watch List. The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Ford’s appearance 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 is just the third female Gamecock to be named to the Bowerman Award Watch List, joining LaKya Brookins (2011) and Jeannelle Scheper (2015). Ford is looking to become the first Gamecock in program history to win the award for either the men or women.
The Fayetteville, N.C. product has already been named SEC Women’s Freshman Runner of the Week on three occasions this year. In just her first indoor season, Ford currently ranks first in the NCAA in the 200m with a time of 22.58 which also ranks third in the world leaderboard. Her 200m time is also the second fastest indoor 200m dash in program history. Her 400m time of 51.60 currently ranks fifth in the NCAA and 11th in the world standings. She now ranks fourth all-time in program history in the indoor 400m.
Ford was also the anchor leg of the Gamecock women’s 4x400m relay that ran a program-record time of 3:27.09 for the second fastest indoor 4x400m relay this season in the NCAA.
Joining Ford on the first updated version of the Bowerman Watch List are: Temitope Adeshina (Texas Tech), Alia Armstrong (LSU), Lamara Distin (Texas A&M), Brianna Lyston (LSU), Olivia Markezich (Notre Dame), Hana Moll (Washington), Michaela Rose (LSU), Ackelia Smith (Texas) and Parker Valby (Florida).
The next update will occur on Wednesday, Feb. 28 (women) and Thursday, Feb. 29 (men).
Ford and the rest of the Gamecocks will be back in action this weekend with a majority of the competing squad heading to Clemson for the Tiger Paw Invite (Feb. 9-10). Meanwhile, the distance squad will head north to Boston for the David Hemery Valentine Invitational (Feb. 9-10).
