South Carolina’s Sheila & Morris Cregger Track crackles with anticipation. With the arrival of the NCAA’s No. 1 dual hurdler, the air hums with electric possibilities. The Gamecocks, long respected under Coach Curtis Frye, are now poised to re-enter the national conversation not just as contenders—but as potential champions. Once again, Columbia may become the epicenter of collegiate hurdling greatness.
Hurdling history takes shape in high school: our featured athlete shattered regional barriers, clocking sub‑14s in the 110H and blazing through 400H with sub‑56s. She emerged as a standout recruit from the Southeast, drawn to South Carolina’s legacy.
At last year’s NCAA championships, she sprinted to glory, securing top times in both NCAA dual hurdle events. Her versatility—dominating both the explosive, technical 100/110 hurdles and the endurance-heavy 400 hurdles—catapulted her to collegiate stardom.
What sets her apart? A seamless blend of raw speed, meticulous form, and versatility. In the high hurdles, she extracts maximum power per stride; in the 400H, she sustains rhythmic hurdling endurance. Her mental toughness comes from high-pressure performances throughout the NCAA dual hurdle affairs.
Her presence has had immediate ripple effects:
- Training elevation: Teammates report intensified workouts—“She forces you to step up every session.”
- Relay upgrades: Her speed and form sharpen the 4×400 relay squad, reshaping depth charts.
- Competitive culture: From freshmen to veterans, squad ambition is now amplified: national standings are not goals—they’re expectations.
Coach Frye, South Carolina’s veteran hurdling guru, orchestrates hurdles excellence. Under his guidance:
- Olympic champions like Johnny Dutch (400H champ; 47.63 PB) and others like Allen Johnson honed elite formThe current practitioner is following in the footsteps of those champions, fine-tuning mechanics and mentality.
Frye’s philosophy? Teach discipline first, speed second, individuality third. His athletes aren’t just fast—they’re smart hurdlers.
- SEC Outdoor Championships in May promise hurdles battles.
- Regionals lead into national exposure.
- NCAA Outdoor Championships: expect top-seeded showings in high hurdles, 400 hurdles, and relays.
In the SEC alone, rivals from LSU and Texas Tech pose threats—yet Gamecocks are favored to top NCAA dual hurdles rankings.
National dual-hurdle contenders include seasoned Aussie and Jamaican collegiate stars across conferences.
Alongside the primary hurdler, USC fields an electrifying sprinter, already breaking program top‑10 marks in the 100/200/400. Nyck Harbor, a dual-sport sensation, recently ran 20.97s (200m) and 10.11s (100m), making NCAA and Olympic Trial qual-settings. (si.com)
- JaMeesia Ford sprinting a NCAA-leading 50.43s in 400 m and breaking elite relay times.
- Joslyn Hamilton—a freshman—claimed 100 m hurdles gold at the USATF U20 Championships with a 13.36s win
The depth spans throws, jumps, distance, relay; but it’s on the track where Gamecocks promise the most fireworks.
South Carolina’s hurdles pedigree isn’t recent—it stretches decades:
- Johnny Dutch, NCAA 400H champ, went pro under Coach FryeShevon Nieto (née Stoddart), an Olympic 400H participant from USC, exemplifies international caliber. (
- National exposure, boosted recruitment, and fundraising are natural by-products of elite performance.
- The program is positioned to attract top incoming hurdling talent.
- Having a dual-hurdler dominate draws national attention—it enriches dual-hurdle events’ storylines and competitive depth.
- Will she continue to improve both hurdle events mid-season?
- Can the relay teams translate individual brilliance into relay dominance?
- How will she manage the dual demands of high and long hurdle training as pressure mounts?
- Will supportive teammates—like Ford and Harbor—continue their breakout seasons?
“Portal Power” is more than a phrase—it’s the current of momentum that promises to surge through Columbia. With the NCAA top dual hurdler anchoring the squad, speedster catalysts, Coach Frye’s legendary guidance, and program depth, the Gamecocks are rising from contenders to champions. Should the pieces align, this could be remembered not just as a standout season—but the start of a legacy renaissance.
