Akala Garrett

Career Honors and Recognition
2026 NCAA Outdoor Champion (400mH)
4x Outdoor First Team All-American (2026, 2025, 2024(x2))
4x Indoor First Team All-American (2026 (x3), 2025)
2x Outdoor First Team All-SEC (2026, 2025)
2026 Indoor First Team All-SEC
2026 USTFCCCA Southeast Region Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year
2024 Big 12 Outdoor Freshman of the Year

Season and Career Results

2026

Indoor

Appeared in six meets for the Gamecocks, running the 60mH and proving to be a critical factor in both the 4x400m relay and the DMR … Earned a team-leading three First Team All-American nods during her first indoor season with the Gamecocks … Finished as the national runner-up in the women’s DMR, running the 400m leg of the team that clocked a time of 10:49.69 … Also podiumed in the 4x400m relay with a bronze medal finish at the NCAA Indoor Championship, crossing the finish line in 3:26.44 for the second fastest time in school history … Individually earned First Team All-American honors in the 60mH after finishing eighth with a time of 8.17 … Claimed a spot on the First Team All-SEC after winning the women’s DMR for the first time in school history, running a program record time of 10:45.64 along the way … Also finished runner-up in the 4x400m relay at the SEC Indoor Championship running 3:26.85 … Individually placed fourth in the 60mH at the SEC Championship, clocking a program record 8.04 to do so … Her best finish on the season in the 60mH was runner-up at the USC Invite with a mark of 8.11 … Was a member of the third fastest women’s DMR squad that turned in a time of 10:51.52 to finish third at the Razorback Invitational … Also part of the fourth fastest women’s 4x400m relay team in school history at the same meet, running 3:27.75 to finish third in the field.

Outdoor

Competed in seven meets for the Gamecocks, primarily in both hurdle events as well as the 4x400m relay … Won the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championship in the 400mH, becoming the second Gamecock female to do so as she joined LaShinda Demus (2002) … Crossed the finish line with a new program record mark of 53.32, breaking Demus’ previous record of 53.43 set in 2004, earning her fourth outdoor First Team All-American nod in the process … Also ran the 4x400m relay at the NCAA Outdoor Championship, finishing 22^nd overall with a time of 3:28.27 … Was named USTFCCCA Southeast Region Women’s Track Athlete of the Year … Dominated the 400mH all season long, winning all six final events that she competed in … Earned First Team All-SEC honors for winning the 400mH after crossing the line in 54.02 … Also placed fourth overall at the SEC Outdoor Championship in the 4x400m relay, running 3:25.09 for the fourth best time in Gamecock history … Was also victorious in the 400mH at the Florida Relays (54.22), Tom Jones Memorial (54.46) and the East Coast Relays (55.36) … Ran the 100mH in four meets this year, with a season best mark of 13.06 set at both the East Coast Relays and the SEC Outdoor Championship, ranking eighth all time in program history … Finished runner-up in the 100mH at the Florida Relays (13.17) … Dominated in the 4x400m relay with four wins during the regular season for Carolina … Ran a new program record mark of 3:23.42 to win the Tom Jones Memorial … Also won at the Raleigh Relays (3:29.27), Florida Relays (3:25.12) and the East Coast Relays (3:36.57).

Previous School(s)
Texas
2025
Indoor
Ran in seven meets during her sophomore campaign with the Longhorns … Earned First Team All-American honors at the NCAA Indoor Championship after finishing eighth in the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:30.65 … Finished 13^th in the 400m at the SEC Indoor Championship, running 52.74 … Ran a personal best time in the 60mH at the Tiger Paw Invitational, crossing the finish line in 8.23 … Earned a pair of runner-up finishes in the 400m and the 4x400m at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic, clocking a personal best 52.25 in the 400m, while leading her team to a 3:30.36 time in the relay … Had a meet to remember at the 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational, winning the 400m (52.35), the 4x400m (3:33.94) and finishing runner-up in the 200m with a personal best time of 23.98 … Opened the season with a pair of wins at the Louisville Opener in the 4x400m (3:38.46) and the 500m with a personal best mark of 1:10.40 … Ran a PR in the 600m at the Arkansas Invitational, posting a time of 1:30.56.

Outdoor
Took part in seven meets during her final season with Texas, primarily running in the hurdles … Earned First Team All-American honors in the 400mH at the NCAA Outdoor Championship, finishing runner-up in the event with a time of 54.66 … Ran a personal best 100mH wind-legal time of 12.93 in the preliminary round of the NCAA Championship … Advanced to the NCAA Championship after finishing first in the NCAA West Regional, clocking 54.72 … Earned First Team All-SEC honors after winning gold medal at the SEC Outdoor Championship in the 400mH, running 54.84 in the finale … Also scored in the 4x400m relay at the SEC Championship, placing sixth after running 3:31.90 … Opened the season with a pair of wins at the 97^th Texas Relays in the 100mH and the 400mH, running a wind-aided PR in the 100mH of 12.75 (2.6) while running 55.49 in the 400mH … Ran her fastest collegiate 400mH at the Tom Jones Invitational, where she earned bronze medalist honors with a time of 53.73.

2024
Indoor
Ran in six meets during her freshman indoor season … Won the Big 12 Indoor title in the 600 yard race, running 1:19.04 for the title … Also finished sixth in the 60mH at the Big 12 Championship after running 8.27 in the finale … Made her collegiate debut in the 60mH at the Commonwealth College Opener, finishing runner-up with a time of 8.33, while also winning the 500m after crossing the finish line in 1:12.30 … Was part of the 4x400m relay squad that finished fourth at the Rod McCravy Memorial Track & Field meet with a time of 3:43.62 … Ran a personal best 60m time of 7.77 at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational.

Outdoor
Appeared in six outdoor meets during her freshman season, primarily running the hurdles … Earned a pair of First Team All-American honors at the NCAA Outdoor Championship, finishing third in the 4x400m relay (3:23.68) and fourth in the 400mH with a time of 54.84 … Ran 55.72 at the NCAA West Regional to finish third overall in the preliminary round, punching her ticket to Oregon … Captured the Big 12 Outdoor title in the 400mH, crossing the finish line in 54.73, while also finishing with bronze medalist honors in the 100mH with a mark of 13.30 … Swept the Annual Mt. SAC Relays in the 100mH (13.23) and the 400mH (55.93) … Ran a wind-aided PR in the 200m at the Cameron Burrell Alumni Invitational, running 24.20 (5.4) to finish fifth … Opened her outdoor season at the 96^th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, winning the 400mH with a time of 56.19.

Pre- South Carolina
High School
Daughter of Stephon and April Primous, born on May 10 … Her mother ran track & field at Georgia … Graduated from Albemarle High School and ran for Purpose Driven NC Elite … 2x World U20 Champion … 2022 U20 400mH world champion after running 56.16 … 2022 Nike Outdoor Nationals 400mH champion (5.46) and 100mH champion (13.44) … USATF U20 Outdoor Championships 400mH champion after running 57.47 … 2021 USATF National Junior Olympic Champion in the 400mH (57.48) … Was a 16x state champion at Albemarle High School.

Personal Records

Indoor

Outdoor