The South Carolina Track & Field program delivered a commanding performance that will be remembered for years, sending eight standout athletes to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. A blend of youthful energy and seasoned experience fueled this achievement as Gamecock competitors delivered 11 qualifying performances, punching their tickets to the national stage and reinforcing South Carolina’s place among track and field’s elite.
From the opening heats to the closing relays, the Gamecocks competed with urgency, grit, and confidence. The NCAA East Regional in Lexington, Kentucky, was the proving ground, and South Carolina rose to the occasion. Sprinters, hurdlers, and field athletes didn’t just show up—they took over, executing their events with precision and passion. When the dust settled, eight Gamecocks stood among the nation’s best, their national qualifications a culmination of months of discipline and belief.
Leading the charge was senior sprinter JaMeesia Ford, whose name has become synonymous with excellence in Gamecock circles. Ford punched her ticket to nationals in three separate events—the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4×100-meter relay. Her versatility and power across short distances were on full display as she breezed through the rounds with elite composure. Her 100-meter time of 11.07 seconds didn’t just win her heat—it made a statement. In the 200 meters, Ford clocked in at 22.21, a time that ranked among the nation’s best this season. Her contributions to the relay team were equally vital, running the anchor leg and helping guide the team to a crisp sub-43.5 finish.
Ford’s leadership extended far beyond the lanes. Her presence provided a calming energy for the relay team, which also featured freshman phenom Jaelyn Rivers, junior Zariyah Allen, and senior Aliyah Abrams. Together, the quartet formed one of the most consistent relay squads in the SEC this season. Their chemistry was unmatched, their baton exchanges seamless, and their execution near flawless. As they clinched a top-five regional finish, they secured one of the nation’s coveted spots at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Rivers, meanwhile, wasn’t done after the relay. The freshman made her individual mark in the 400 meters, cruising to a personal-best time of 51.68 seconds. It was enough to earn her a top-three finish in the East Region and a direct path to the NCAA Championships. Her breakthrough performance capped off a season that began with promise and now moves toward national prestige. For a first-year athlete to emerge on the national scene this decisively is rare—and for Rivers, it’s only the beginning.
While the women’s sprints garnered the headlines, the men’s squad brought their own thunder. Sophomore sprinter Christian Lewis posted a career-best performance in the 400 meters, stopping the clock at 45.19. It was a personal best by nearly half a second and enough to position him among the nation’s top seeds. His powerful final 100 meters showcased his endurance and explosiveness, turning a tight race into a dominant finish. Lewis has quietly evolved into one of South Carolina’s most reliable point-scorers, and with nationals looming, his momentum could not be better timed.
Joining Lewis on the men’s list of qualifiers was hurdler Noah Jennings, whose mastery of the 110-meter hurdles has grown steadily all spring. At the East Regional, Jennings executed one of the cleanest hurdle races of his career, clocking in at 13.47 seconds and securing a fourth-place finish. His qualifying run came after a dominant heat performance in which he led wire to wire and never once broke form. For Jennings, who narrowly missed out on nationals the year prior, the moment was not only validating—it was redemptive.
South Carolina also found success in the field events. Junior long jumper Alaya Murphy launched a personal-best leap of 6.52 meters, good for a top-five finish and a nationals berth. Her series of jumps included three marks over 6.45 meters, signaling remarkable consistency and technique under pressure. Murphy, whose confidence has grown with every meet this season, showed poise throughout the competition. Her final jump—a textbook flight with perfect board placement—sealed her qualification and gave her a shot at NCAA gold.
Shot put specialist Damian Holloway added a final punch to South Carolina’s total with a dominant showing. His best throw of 19.94 meters qualified him easily, and placed him in the top tier heading into Eugene. Holloway’s mix of raw power and polished mechanics has made him one of the most feared throwers in the conference. His consistency—throwing over 19.80 in each of his attempts—demonstrated just how dialed-in he was during the biggest meet of the year. His training all season focused on peaking at regionals and nationals, and clearly, the plan is working.
Not to be overlooked was high jumper Kennedy Williams, whose 1.84-meter clearance secured her place at the NCAA Championships and matched a career-high. The junior had flirted with this mark earlier in the season but hadn’t quite cleared it in competition. That changed in Lexington. Her first-attempt clearance at 1.84 brought an eruption from the Gamecock fan section, and her emotion afterward revealed how much it meant. For Williams, this marks her first trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, a milestone achievement for one of the most improved athletes on the roster.
The collective effort from these eight Gamecocks produced 11 qualifying marks—a level of depth and balance few programs can claim. From sprints to throws, from jumps to relays, South Carolina flexed its all-around excellence. Head Coach Tim Hall praised the group’s resilience and preparation, emphasizing that this success wasn’t accidental—it was earned.
“This group has worked relentlessly all year,” Hall said. “To have this many athletes qualify—and do it across multiple events—speaks to their dedication and their belief in each other. Nationals is a different stage, and we’re going there with confidence.”
Indeed, the Gamecocks have more than just a presence at nationals—they have contenders. JaMeesia Ford enters Eugene with legitimate title hopes in both the 100 and 200 meters. She’ll be tested by a national field that includes Olympic hopefuls and returning champions, but her form suggests she’s ready. Likewise, Rivers in the 400 and Murphy in the long jump have both posted top-10 national marks this year and are in the conversation for All-American honors.
There’s a bond among this group, too, that goes beyond individual accolades. The relay team in particular has leaned on trust and communication to drive their success. Each member knows her role, knows when to accelerate, when to ease, and how to sync their rhythms. In an event often decided by fractions of seconds and millimeters of baton exchange, that trust can make all the difference.
As they prepare for the final meet of the season, the Gamecocks do so not as outsiders or longshots—but as a team that has earned its stripes. The East Regional wasn’t just a qualifier; it was a declaration. South Carolina Track & Field is a force, and these eight athletes are ready to make history on the sport’s grandest collegiate stage.
The road to Eugene is paved with sacrifices, early mornings, rehab sessions, and endless reps. Every stride taken in training, every lift in the weight room, every practice jump, throw, and hurdle—it all led to this. These eight Gamecocks have answered the call, and now they carry with them not only their personal ambitions, but the pride of an entire program.
With 11 punches to nationals, South Carolina isn’t just attending the NCAA Championships—they’re coming to compete, to challenge, and to win. For the athletes in garnet and black, the job isn’t done yet. But for now, they can savor what they’ve accomplished and prepare for the biggest meet of their careers.
In a season defined by heart and hustle, the Gamecocks have one more chapter to write. And if their regional performance is any indication, it’s going to be one to remember.
