THE 1-LAP BATON race wasn’t just fast, it was historically fast. Before this year, only one school had ever broken 42 seconds (Texas, three times in 2023). Now, three more have done it.
In the semifinals, USC joined the club with a 41.96, with Georgia ever so close at 42.00.
Then came the greatest final ever. USC led the way at 41.58, followed by LSU at 41.74 and Georgia broke through at 41.89.
Our formchart was damaged well before the gun, when South Carolina’s JaMeesia Ford went down injured in her 200 semi. The Gamecocks’ squad had already qualified for the final, but losing a runner who’s on both the 100 and 200 all-time collegiate lists was a blow.
Once the running started, South Carolina may still have had hope by handing off first, while USC handed off much later than the Gamecocks, Georgia and LSU. However, that was likely a strategic move to shorten the leg of the Trojans’ slowest runner, Mia Brahe-Pedersen, who received from Dajaz Defrand.
Superstar frosh Adaejah Hodge carried down the backstretch for Georgia, passing the stick simultaneously with USC, followed by LSU. Meanwhile, Ford’s absence became a moot point: South Carolina’s Cynteria James and Kymora-Lee Williams got their legs tangled and both fell hard.
Then came the game-changer: USC junior Madison Whyte, Big 10 champ in both the 200 and 400 and last year’s 200 runner-up, scorched the turn. By the time she handed off to soph Brianna Selby, also a Big 10 champ in the 100, their advantage was solid and would hold.
LSU soph Shawnti Jackson ran a stellar anchor, overtaking Georgia senior Jassani Carter with about 50 meters remaining. She gained on Selby for a bit, but had not nearly enough real estate.
Substantial list rewriting was done. Among all-time performances, USC’s rated 2nd, LSU’s 4th, Georgia’s =5th. USC’s semifinal mark is now 7th all-time and Georgia’s =8th.
Among schools, USC improved from #4 to #2; LSU dropped from #2 to #4, despite improving its time by 0.21; Georgia now sits at #4. Texas A&M dropped from #7 to #8 but improved by 0.02; Tennessee continues to hold a share of #9 but improved by 0.02.
Asked by ESPN’s John Anderson how it felt to move at 100 speed instead of to the rhythm of her specialties, White said, “It feels great. I mean, especially to do it with my teammates, so it’s just a fun little change.”
Said Brahe-Pedersen, “All of our girls are very experienced on the big stage, so I think going into this meet, a lot of us just approach this like it was any other meet. I think having that kind of composure is just, that’s what allows us to be so successful.”
WOMEN’S 4 x 100 RESULTS
FINAL (June 13)
1. USC 41.58 (WL, AL) (2 C) (Dafrand, Brahe-Pedersen, Whyte, Selby);
2. LSU 41.74 (4 C) (Hinckson’, Godbless’, Bigam, Jackson);
3. Georgia 41.89 (=5 C) (Jackson, Hodge’, Redmond, Carter);
4. Texas A&M 42.34 (#9 school) (Jackson, Dickson, Shaheed, Montgomery);
5. Tennessee 42.40 (#10 school) (Jarrett, Wilson, Jones, Wright);
6. Florida State 42.81 (Sleeman’, Walker’, Tyson, Holland);
7. Texas 42.94 (Bernard’, Okuku’, Wolfe, London);
8. Texas Tech 43.09 (Colbert, Olajide, Afrifa, Kelley);… dnf—South Carolina (Brown, James, Williams, Hamilton).
SEMIS (June 11)
I–1. LSU 42.38; 2. Texas A&M 42.52; 3. Duke 43.46; 4. Baylor 43.52; 5. Auburn 43.69; 6. Oregon 44.22; 7. Central Arkansas 44.44;… dnf—Clemson.
II–1. USC 41.96 (4 C);
2. Georgia 42.00 (=5 C);
3. Tennessee 42.46; 4. Texas 43.01; 5. Texas Tech 43.11; 6. Ole Miss 43.20; 7. Florida A&M 43.46; 8. Arizona State 44.66.
III–1. South Carolina 42.44 (Brown, James, Williams, Ford); 2. Florida State 43.23; 3. TCU 43.57; 4. Howard 43.66; 5. Ohio State 43.85; 6. Arizona 44.51; 7. UCLA 44.98; 8. Nebraska 45.03.
