WATCHING SOUTH CAROLINA super soph JaMeesia Ford during her individual event and relay prelims on the first day of the NCAA Championships, it was entirely possible to believe she could not only pull off a 100/200 double, but also perhaps anchor one or even two winning relays for the Gamecocks.
It was one thing to watch her close out the 42.58 and 3:27.95 South Carolina semis wins in the relays and even become the fifth collegian under 22 seconds in her 200 prelim (21.98). But more telling was Ford’s reaction when she blasted a 10.87 semi in the 100 in her second race Wednesday. When she saw the clock, her eyes got wide and she covered her mouth with her hands as if to conceal her happy surprise. The soph came into Eugene with “just” an 11.06 PR and no one imagined, even with the vast range of Ford’s sprint talents, that she would blast one like that.
Two days later, it was back to reality. Yes, Ford had wrapped up a fine weekend with a 22.21 200 triumph in Friday’s final, edging USC’s Madison Whyte at 22.23. The earlier 100 final was a valiant effort, but a runner-up finish to another Trojan, Samirah Moody, by .003 as both clocked 11.14 into a headwind and a much cooler, less sprint-friendly day. Same with the 4×1, where Ford closed hard on Southern Cal’s Jassani Carter to make up a considerable anchor leg deficit in a runner-up, school-record 42.40 effort.
For now, at least, the 200 is Ford’s best event and Friday marked her first return to the top of the podium since the ’24 indoor champs. She was runner-up to McKenzie Long in the ’24 NCAA 200, then indoors this past winter, Ford’s efforts were upended by this year’s stellar frosh, TCU’s Indya Mayberry (as well as runner-up Jaydn Mays) as the Gamecock standout was 3rd.
In this final, Ford was in lane 6, with Jasmine Montgomery to her outside and Whyte to her inside. Montgomery got out well, but Ford closed the stagger by the top of the straight. However, Whyte’s curve was even better and she pulled nearly even with the Gamecock. Ford dug deep and held her off, never allowing the Trojan to overtake her.
There was no celebrating afterward, though. After crossing the line, Ford had clearly tweaked something and, with a mild limp, exited the track fairly quickly. She may have had recovering for the 4×4 in mind, but the Gamecocks would…
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