Ford's speedy 300 earns her USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS — Running the fastest indoor 300 ever by a U20 woman, JaMeesia Ford (Fayetteville, North Carolina/USATF North Carolina) earned recognition as the 45th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2023.

Ford, a South Carolina freshman, sped around the oval at the Clemson Opener and stopped the clock at 35.83 to win the 300 meters. Her time is the best ever indoors by a U20 athlete, eclipsing the 36.12 run by Sydney McLaughlin in 2017. It is the fourth-fastest indoor time ever by an American woman and places her equal seventh on the women's world all-time indoor performer list.

Winner of North Carolina class 4A high school titles at 100, 200 and 400 earlier this year, Ford also captured the Nike Outdoor Nationals 400 crown and was the bronze medalist in the 200. At the USATF U20 Championships, Ford earned bronze with a PB 51.77 in the 400, and she helped Team USATF to gold in the mixed 4x400 relay at the Pan American U20 Championships.
 
Other top performances from last week:

• Calvin Seitz won the boys' 13-14 division at the USATF Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships by more than 13 seconds, clocking 12:03 for 4K to turn back 448 other competitors in the largest field of the meet.
• Nat Larson won the masters men's title at the USATF Club Cross Country Championships with a 29:34 8K that put him 19 seconds ahead of the runner-up.
• Amanda Vestri won the women's open gold at the USATF Club Cross Country Championships by 14 seconds with a 20:07 6K effort.
• Tai Dinger had a 7.4-second margin of victory in the men's open division at the USATF Club Cross Country Championships, covering the 10K course in 30:48.
• Nora Cary won the women's 65-69 division at the USATF Club Cross Country Championships by 2:42, running 26:30 for 6K to achieve a 93.44% age grade.

Now in its 22nd year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2023 Winners: January 17, Emily Sisson; January 24, Ednah Kurgat; January 31, Woody Kincaid; February 7, Grant Holloway; February 14, Yared Nuguse; February 21, Anna Hall; February 28, Talitha Diggs; March 7, Alicia Monson; March 14, Jasmine Moore; March 21, Keyzelle Thomas; March 28, Camille Herron; April 4, Hillary Bor; April 11, Valarie Allman; April 18, Britton Wilson; April 25, Brooke Andersen; May 2, Gabby Thomas; May 9, Connor Burns; May 16, Britton Wilson; May 23, Brooke Andersen; May 30, Ryan Crouser; June 6, KC Lightfoot; June 13, Grayson Murphy; June 20, Yared Nuguse; July 17, Gabby Thomas & Christian Miller; July 20, Ednah Kurgat; July 27, Nikki Hiltz; August 3, Quenton Lanese; August 10, Shawnti Jackson; August 17, Michelle Atherley; August 30, Ryan Crouser, Noah Lyles, Sha'Carri Richardson & Laulauga Tausaga-Collins; September 6, Yared Nuguse; September 13, Jenny Hitchings; September 20, Yared Nuguse; September 27, Weini Kelati; October 3, Hobbs Kessler; October 10, Conner Mantz; October 17, Parker Valby; October 24, Biya Simbassa; October 31, Parker Valby; November 7, Isai Rodriguez; November 14, Katelyn Tuohy; November 21, Graham Blanks; November 28, Morgan Beadlescomb; December 5, Addy Ritzenhein; December 12, JaMeesia Ford.

We welcome your nominations!

To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to communications@usatf.org.

Join the conversation with USATF on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook using the hashtag #USATF.
 
Photo Credit: Juan Blas - South Carolina Athletics