We’re about halfway through the 2024 NCAA outdoor track and field season, and freshmen around the country have already made an impact. Here are some of the top freshmen women’s athletes so far this year.
Temitope Adeshina | Texas Tech | High Jump
Temitope Adeshina kicks off the list as one of the top high jumpers in the country. Her 1.87 meter jump won at Texas Relays and sits No. 4 in the NCAA this year.
Ida Breigan | UTSA | Long Jump
Ida Breigan leads the country with her 6.74 meter long jump. Breigan had an impressive series at the Beach Invitational where her nation-leading mark was one of two 6.50 meter-plus jumps.
HALFWAY: Midseason superlatives for NCAA men's and women's outdoor track and field
Kaylyn Brown | Arkansas | Sprints
Lane 9. That’s where Arkansas freshman Kaylyn Brown ran 49.95 in the 400 meters, a world-leading mark at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational. To put that number in perspective, Allyson Felix ran 49.65 for a bronze Olympic medal from lane 9 to set the fastest mark ever from said lane.
If Brown’s 400 meter running wasn’t enough, she also has impressed this season with an NCAA No. 6 time of 22.77 seconds in the 200 meters and by running the second and third leg on the second-fastest 4x400 and 4x100 meter relays, respectively.
Kaylyn Brown, Razorback 19-year-old freshman, defeated an elite 400m collegiate field in Florida from lane 9
— Arkansas Track & Field (@RazorbackTF) April 15, 2024
Winning time of 49.95 is 2024 outdoor world leader
Brown ranks No. 7 on collegiate all-time list, No. 2 on UA all-time list#WPS 🐗 pic.twitter.com/FW4XnC71XF
RECORDS: Every collegiate track and field record broken in 2024
Gladys Chepngetich | Clemson | Mid-Distance
Gladys Chepngetich ran 2:00.53 in the 800 meters, a time good for second in the NCAA this year and making her the No. 15 all-time collegiate performer in the event. Chepngetich also runs relays as well, running in the 4x400 and helping Clemson earn second place as the anchor leg of the 4x800 at Texas Relays.
LONESTAR: Recapping the 2024 Texas Relays
JaMeesia Ford | South Carolina | Sprints
JaMeesia Ford is the lone freshman on the Bowerman watch list, and it’s not because of her indoor success alone. Ford leads the nation in the 200 meters at 22.37 seconds and has run the fifth-fastest 400 meter time at 50.81 seconds. Furthermore, South Carolina counts on Ford to close out the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays, where she has run anchor on the fourth-fastest relays in both events.
Watch this curve from JaMeesia Ford (@jameesiaford) en route to an NCAA 200m lead of 22.37 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/C4D9q2GVvy
— RoriDunk (@FitzDunk) March 29, 2024
AWARDS: Ranking the 10 men and 10 women on the fourth 2024 Bowerman watch list update
Cynteria James | South Carolina | Sprints
Another South Carolina freshman sprinter, Cynteria James, also makes the list. James’ 11.01 second 100 meter finish is the second-fastest wind-legal time this year. Her 22.99 (+3.1) 200 meter finish is the 20th-fastest all-conditions time this year, and she ran the second leg on South Carolina’s 4x100 relay.
GAINESVILLE: Recapping the 2024 Florida Relays
Irene Jepkemboi | TCU | Javelin
Irene Jepkemboi has thrown her way into the top of the javelin charts with her 57.23 meter toss, the third-best mark in the country this year. She’s surpassed 54 meters three times so far this season.
OUTDOOR CHAMPS: Schedule, location, TV channels, history for the 2024 NCAA outdoor track and field championships
Judy Kosgei | South Carolina | Mid-Distance
South Carolina’s freshmen class is special, with Judy Kosgei being the third Gamecock on this list. Kosegei has quickly established herself as one of the better mid-distance runners in the country with her 2:01.66 800 meters (No. 7 in the NCAA) and 4:13.22 1500 meters (No. 21 in the NCAA).
MONTH IN REVIEW: Recapping the top outdoor track and field moments of March
Hana Moll | Washington | Pole Vault
Hana Moll followed up an indoor pole vault title with more success in the event outdoors. She has the nation’s No. 2 pole vault height at 4.50 meters in her lone outdoor meet.
🏆: Arkansas, Texas Tech win 2024 indoor titles | Florida, Texas win 2023 outdoor titles | How the outdoor championships work
💥HISTORY: Programs with the most titles | Men's champ history | Women's champ history | Bowerman history
🧠 WHAT TO KNOW: Wind and scoring explained | Greatest venues | Best uniforms | The difference between indoor and outdoor seasons
🥇 Tokyo Olympians: Karel Tiga | JuVaughn Harrison | Cole Hocker | Camryn Rogers | Ruth Usoro | Athing Mu | Tara Davis | Tyra Gittens
