UO release – UGENE, Ore. – NCAA champion Jaida Ross has been named the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) West Region Women’s Field Athlete of the Year. Jerry Schumacher, for a second-consecutive season, is the West Region Women’s Coach of the Year. Ross, the NCAA champion in the shot put, broke the collegiate record—for a second time—with her toss of 20.01m/65-7.75 at the NCAA West Preliminary in Fayetteville, Ark. With the measure, she became the first collegian and seventh American woman ever beyond 20 meters. Ross first broke the record with her 19.71m/64-8 showing at the Triton Invitational (April 6), a performance she equaled three weeks later at the Desert Heat Classic. The Medford, Ore., native won the NCAA title with a day’s best of 19.57m/64.25 though all six of Ross’ throws were far enough to win the competition. She now owns four of the top five throws in collegiate history. Ross was previously named the Pac-12 Women’s Field Athlete of the Year after sweeping shot put and discus titles at the conference meet in Boulder, Colo. She set a discus best of 59.74m/196-0 at the Pac-12 Championships. Ross becomes the fourth Oregon woman to win West Region Field Athlete of the Year since 2007 joining Brianne Theisen (2010, ’12), Jenna Prandini (2015) and Jorinde van Klinken (2023). Under Schumacher’s watch, the Women of Oregon finished in fourth place at the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field. The Ducks accumulated 40.5 points and scored in 10 of the 13 events entered. Overall, the UO women had 15 total national entries. Schumacher was also Pac-12 Women’s Coach of the Year after Oregon won the team title with 150 points and contributions in 17 of the 21 events.
