AFTER SPENDING TIME refining her mental game, Florida State senior Shenese Walker pays no mind to the athletes lining up next to her.
“It’s just me vs. me,” the Jamaican said.
Walker knew the attention in the 100 final was centered around Adaejah Hodge. The Georgia frosh electrified the Hayward Field crowd with her collegiate and meet record 10.63 in the semis, which made her the No. 5 performer all-time. With the wind just under the legal limit at 1.9, Hodge obliterated the record of 10.75 set by Sha’Carri Richardson of LSU in 2019.
“I’m quick as well,” said Walker, who proved that indoors in March when she defeated Hodge, who had recently come off a doping-related suspension, in the NCAA 60.
Hodge called her newly-minted record “a great accomplishment, but the job isn’t over,” and she was right.
The Bulldog has been working on her start, which she needed to keep pace with Walker. The Seminole was slightly behind at about 40 meters, then shifted into a gear that Hodge, a British Virgin Islands Olympian, could not match.
With her garnet hair flowing — and the wind gauge reading 0.0 — Walker won in 10.88 seconds, followed by Hodge (10.93) and LSU soph Shawnti Jackson (11.01).
Brianna Selby, the USC soph who came in as No. 2 on the T&FN formchart, was 8th in 11.14 while JaMeesia Ford, the 2025 runner-up from South Carolina, did not start after suffering an injury in the 200 semis two days before.
“I’m the type of athlete you have to beat on the day,” Walker said. “I’m very confident, I don’t really watch what my competitors do. Staying focused on myself and executing was the easiest thing I could have done.”
And the straightaway is her happy place. “It’s like my baby,” she said.
Last year, Walker finished 6th in the 100, and did not make the final in 2024. “I’m a senior, so it definitely took a while,” she said. “I mastered it now, I would say. I’m ready to transition to the professional level and I have to learn how to focus on myself because everyone is like — fast.”
Earlier this season, Walker posted a time of 10.80 to move to No. 8 on the all-time list for Jamaica, which she called “speed capital.”
She was also proud to bring the title back to the ACC. She became the first Florida State sprinter to win the women’s 100 since Michelle Finn in 1985. Finn also won the NCAA 55 indoors.
“I’m very grateful putting the ACC on [the podium] for the sprints,” Walker said. “It’s a good feeling, so the younger athletes know you don’t have to be in the SEC — you can be wherever and be the best.”
WOMEN’S 100 RESULTS
FINAL (June 13; wind 0.0)
1. Shenese Walker’ (FlSt-Jam) 10.88;
2. ***Adaejah Hodge’ (Ga-BVI) 10.93;
3. **Shawnti Jackson (LSU) 11.01;
4. Alicia Burnett (Ms) 11.05;
5. ***Dana Wilson (Tn) 11.09;
6. Gabrielle Matthews’ (Fl-Jam) 11.12;
7. *Tima Godbless’ (LSU-Ngr) 11.13;
8. **Brianna Selby (USC) 11.14;
… dnc—*JaMeesia Ford (SC).
SEMIS (June 11)
I(1.9)–1. Hodge’ 10.63 CR (old CR 10.75 Sha’Carri Richardson [LSU] ’19) (WL) (5, =8 W);
2. Jackson 10.88 (=8 AmC);
3. Selby 10.94; 4. Wilson 11.01; 5. Ford 11.02; 6. *Victoria Cameron (Tarl) 11.06; 7. Jasmine Montgomery (TxAM) 11.16; 8. *Paje Rasmussen (BYU) 11.27.
II(0.6)–1. Matthews’ 11.02; 2. Burnett 11.03; 3. Lauren Jarrett (Tn) 11.14; 4. Camryn Dickson (TxAM) 11.17; 5. *Carleta Bernard’ (Tx-Jam) 11.17; 6. **Indya Mayberry (TCU) 11.20; 7. Alyssa Colbert (TxT) 11.32; 8. Jassani Carter (Ga) 11.38.
III(0.3)–1. Walker’ 10.94; 2. Godbless’ 11.08; 3. Dajaz Defrand (USC) 11.10; 4. Kaila Jackson (Ga) 11.13; 5. *Taniya Looney (NM) 11.13; 6. *Cynteria James (SC) 11.24; 7. **Mia Brahe-Pedersen (USC) 11.25; 8. Tiriah Kelley (Bay) 11.30.
