Ford Sweeps SEC Women’s Freshman Runner of the Year
COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 29, 2024) – South Carolina Track & Field freshman phenom JaMeesia Ford completed the season sweep on Wednesday after being named the SEC Women’s Freshman Runner of the Year for the outdoor season. Ford, the reigning indoor 200m national champion, also earned the indoor SEC Women’s Freshman Runner of the Year back in March.
Ford is just the second female Gamecock ever to win the prestigious award during the outdoor season, joining Olympic gold medalist Lashinda Demus who accomplished the feat in 2002. Ford is also just the second female Gamecock to sweep Freshman Runner of the Year, joining Demus who did so in 2002.
The Bowerman Watch List candidate has proven a consistent force in the track world. Ford won a pair of national titles during the indoor season and has continued her success during the outdoor campaign. Ford finished runner-up in the outdoor 200m at the SEC Championship, running a program record time of 22.11 (0.6). She also scored in the 100m and the finished runner-up as the anchor leg in the 4x400m relay.
A clean 🧹
Ford becomes just the second Gamecock female EVER to win both Indoor and Outdoor @SEC Freshman Runner of the Year pic.twitter.com/SrHCxkNnZS
— Gamecock Track & XC (@GamecockTrack) May 29, 2024
At the regional meet, Ford punched her ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Championship in the 200m, 4x100m relay and the 4x400m relay. The Fayetteville, N.C. native finished second overall at the regional meet in the 200m, running 22.28 (-0.1). She also anchored both relays and assisted Carolina in the fastest 4x100m relay in program history as she and her teammates (Jayla Jamison, Cynteria James, Zaya Akins) ran a time of 42.46 to win the NCAA East Regional. The 4x400m relay squad of Akins, Jamison, Sylvia Chelangat and Ford cruised to a spot in the NCAA Championship after winning their heat with a time of 3:26.73.
Ford and the Gamecocks will be put through one final test next week as they compete in the NCAA Outdoor Championship in Eugene, Ore. The meet will begin on Wednesday, June 5 and will conclude on Saturday, June 8.
