COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina track and field head coach Tim Hill and freshman JaMeesia Ford were named USTFCCCA Southeast Region Women’s Coach and Women’s Track Athlete of the Year, respectively, the organization announced today. Ford becomes the first Gamecock to claim that title since LaKya Brookins in 2011.
In his first season at the Gamecocks’ helm, Hall led the women’s team to 15th place at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships to mark the program’s best performance since 2019. South Carolina’s women piled up 10 First-Team All-America honors at the event. In the highly competitive SEC Outdoor Championships, Hall’s Gamecock women finished with the most points since 2013.
Ford capped a stellar freshman campaign with three First-Team All-America honors as the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including a runner-up finish in the 200 meters. Her 22.08 program record in the 200 finals at the national championships made her the seventh fastest performer in collegiate history in that event. The SEC Outdoor Women’s Freshman Runner of the Year added top-eight finishes at the championships with the Gamecocks’ 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams to round out her All-America haul.
Several current and former Gamecocks, including Ford, have their eyes on spots in the USA Track and Field Olympic Trials coming later this month.