Ford Named to Post-Outdoor Conference Bowerman Watch List

COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 21, 2025) – South Carolina star sophomore sprinter is back where she belongs, on The Bowerman Watch List. Ford was named to the official post-outdoor conference watch list, as announced by the committee 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 recently earned the Commissioner’s Trophy, awarded to the top scorer at the SEC Championship meet. She is the first Gamecock to win the award since Erica Whipple did so in 2003. Ford began SEC finals day with a win in the 4×100 meter relay as the anchor leg, guiding Carolina to a 42.75 time and the first 4x100m gold medal for the Gamecocks since 2007. She then ran 11.06 (0.7) in the 100m sprint, earning the program’s first ever 100m SEC Outdoor Championship crown. She was not finished there, running a wind-legal 200m dash in 22.01 (1.9) to set a new SEC Outdoor Championship meet record en route to her third gold medal. Ford now ranks fifth on the all-time collegiate leaderboard in the 200m and sits third on the world leaderboard. Ford capped her weekend with a gold medal in the 4x400m relay, assisting in a relay squad that ran a new program record of 3:24.26.

Joining Ford on The Bowerman Watch List are Silan Ayyildiz (Oregon-Mid Distance), Alexis Brown (Baylor-Sprints/Jumps), Aaliyah Butler (Georgia-Sprints), Pamela Kosgei (New Mexico-Distance), Doris Lemngole (Alabama-Distance), Indya Mayberry (TCU-Sprints), Amanda Moll (Washington-Pole Vault), Michaela Rose (LSU-Mid Distance) and Jayden Ulrich (Louisville-Throws).

The final Bowerman Watch List will be the post-NCAA prelims watch list on Wednesday, June 4, followed by the semifinalists list announced on Wednesday, June 25. The Bowerman Finalists will be revealed on Monday, June 30, while the winner will be officially announced at the yearly convention on Thursday, Dec. 18.

Ford and the rest of the Gamecocks will return to the track on Wednesday, May 28 when they take on the NCAA East Regional in Jacksonville, Fla.