Leah Ford

Academic Honors

• Cooper Scholar
• Honors College
• 2018, 2019, 2020 SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll
• 2016-17 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll

2020 Track

Indoor: Competed in four events for the Gamecocks… Ran the Mile and the 3000m at the Gamecocks four home meets… Finished in 29th in the Mile Run at the South Carolina Invite in a time of 5:28.75… Finished in 17th at the USC Indoor Open in the 3000m in a season-best time of 11:00.35.

Outdoor: Cancelled.

2019 Track

Indoor: Ran at all three home meets… had her best day at the USC Indoor Open, placing 11th with a new PR, 10:42.34… also ran the mile at the Carolina Challenge.

Outdoor: Saw action in two meets… finished 29th in the 1500m at the Gamecock Invitational with a time of 5:06.05.

2018 Cross Country

Ran four times for the Gamecocks… finished 28th at the Carolina Challenge with a season-best time of 19:15.5… took 12th place at the Charleston Classic, helping the Gamecocks win the team title with a mark of 19:18.9… made the SEC Championships squad, finishing 132nd with a time of 21:39.89 at the 6K distance.

2018 Track

Indoor: Took part in the 3000m at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational, finishing 15th with a mark of 10:57.55.

Outdoor: Ran in three meets… finished sixth in the 1500m at the USC Open, clocking a time of 4:54.30… ran the 5000m at the Weems Baskin and Gamecock Invitational meets, with her best time, 18:34.47, coming at the Weems.

2017 Cross Country

Represented the Gamecocks four times in her second season… Placed 31st at the Carolina Challenge, a season best 5K… Finished sixth at the Koala Classic, scoring for the Gamecocks as they won the team title… Posted her best 6K of the year at the Crimson Classic.

2017 Track

Indoor: Ran the 5000m twice… finished fifth at the Clemson Invitational (18:52.69) and 17th at the Tiger Paw Invitational (19:13.87).

Outdoor: Ran both the 3000m and the 5000m… her top 3K finish came at the Weems Baskin Invitational, where her time of 10:56.46 was good for ninth… placed 10th in the 5K at the Spec Towns Invitational, at 18:47.91.

2016 Cross Country

Ran five times in her first year as a Gamecock… finished fifth on the team and 16th overall with her 19:22.77 clocking in her collegiate debut at the Carolina Challenge 5K… came in 16th among Division I competitors in the 33rd Winthrop/adidas Invitational… her best 5K time came in the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational (19:06.6)… tallied her best 6K time in the Crimson Classic at 23:25.7, ranking 141st overall… finished 132nd in the SEC Championships.

High School

The Mason High product competed mostly at 1600m during her high school career … Ranked ninth in the OATCCC Indoor State Championship at 1600m, finishing with her best indoor time of 5:19.81 at that distance … Three times, she finished fifth in the OHSAA Outdoor Division I District meet … Her top outdoor 1600m time came at the 2013 Rod Russel Mason Invitational, completing the race in 5:08.65 … In her four years with the Comets, she helped the team win two state champs (2012-13), one runner-up finish (2014) and one third-place showing (2015) … Competed in four Ohio State Cross Country Championships, finishing a high of 14th in 2013 … Ran her career-best 18:30.52 in that year’s district race, finishing third … Served as the cross country team captain as a senior.

Personal

The daughter of Theodore and Lori Ford … Has two brothers, Brent and Kyle LaPak … Majoring in chemical engineering.

Indoor Personal Records

Mile Run

5:24.95 (2/1/19 Carolina Challenge)

3000m

10:42.34 (2/16/19 USC Indoor Open)

5000m

18:52.69 (1/14/17 Clemson Invitational)

Outdoor Personal Records

1500m

4:54.50 (4/21/18 USC Open)

3000m

10:56.46 (3/25/17 Weems Baskin Invitational)

5000m

18:34.37 (3/23/18 Weems Baskin Invitational)

Cross Country Personal Records

5K

19:06.6 (9/30/16 Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational)

6K

23:25.7 (10/14/16 Crimson Classic)