Photo by: Rob Simmons
Hamrick Earns Big South Women’s Track Athlete of the Year Award
6/23/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Big South Conference announced Tuesday morning that sophomore Jeylah Hamrick has been named the women's track athlete of the year for the 2025-26 indoor and outdoor seasons. The awards are voted on by Big South head coaches as part of their annual June meeting and include performances from throughout the year.
Hamrick had one of, if not the most spectacular, track seasons in Radford history. In her signature event, the sophomore became just the third athlete in conference history to repeat as the Women's Indoor 400m champion. Hamrick set the conference record in the process, posting a time of 52.92. She knocked the door down to win the Women's Outdoor 400m as well, posting a new personal best time of 52.81 seconds in the final while also qualifying for the NCAA East First Rounds in the process. Adding to her trophy case, Hamrick is the eighth Highlander to win three Big South championships over two seasons and first since distance-runner Chloe Wellings from 2023-24.
In addition to her titles, the Williamsburg, Va. native helped anchor the Radford relay teams and get them to all-conference recognition. In the Indoor 4x400 Relay, Hamrick and the ladies set a new school record to take second place at the Big South Championships. At the Big South Outdoor Championships, the 4x100 Relay team finished third while setting a school record with a time of 45.60 seconds. The Highlanders improved to finish second in the 4x400 Relay with a time of 3:42.84, the third-best in program history. With those results, Hamrick is just the second Radford athlete to have four outdoor all-conference and two indoor all-conference nods, along with La'Tisha Chambers in 2019.
Other highlights from Hamrick's season include qualifying for the NCAA East First Rounds in the 400m, joining Jaelynn Joiner (Long Jump) as the first qualifiers for Radford since 2022. Including relay results, Hamrick finished first in 12 races across the indoor and outdoor seasons. She set seven school records this season, including four as an individual, as well as the 300m and 400m Big South indoor records. Her 500m time at the Liberty Kickoff is the second-fastest in Big South history, and her 400m in the Big South Outdoor Championships stands as the third-fastest in conference history.
Hamrick becomes the fourth-ever Highlander to earn the award and first since Wellings since 2024. Other former Highlanders to be named Big South Athlete of the Year include Tiffany Evans (2006-07 and 2007-08) and NCAA All-American Khadijah Conda (1999-2000).
BIG SOUTH TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Women's Track Athlete of the Year – Jeylah Hamrick, So., Radford
Men's Track Athlete of the Year – Laden Beckwith, Fr., Charleston Southern
Women's Field Athlete of the Year – Maeva Tahou, So., Charleston Southern
Men's Field Athlete of the Year – Ricardo Montes de Oca, So., High Point
STAY SOCIAL WITH RADFORD CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD
For all the latest on Radford Cross Country and Track & Field, be sure to follow the team on X (@Radford TrackXC), Instagram (@radfordtrackxc), and "like" the team's official Facebook Page (Radford Cross Country and Track & Field).
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Hamrick had one of, if not the most spectacular, track seasons in Radford history. In her signature event, the sophomore became just the third athlete in conference history to repeat as the Women's Indoor 400m champion. Hamrick set the conference record in the process, posting a time of 52.92. She knocked the door down to win the Women's Outdoor 400m as well, posting a new personal best time of 52.81 seconds in the final while also qualifying for the NCAA East First Rounds in the process. Adding to her trophy case, Hamrick is the eighth Highlander to win three Big South championships over two seasons and first since distance-runner Chloe Wellings from 2023-24.
In addition to her titles, the Williamsburg, Va. native helped anchor the Radford relay teams and get them to all-conference recognition. In the Indoor 4x400 Relay, Hamrick and the ladies set a new school record to take second place at the Big South Championships. At the Big South Outdoor Championships, the 4x100 Relay team finished third while setting a school record with a time of 45.60 seconds. The Highlanders improved to finish second in the 4x400 Relay with a time of 3:42.84, the third-best in program history. With those results, Hamrick is just the second Radford athlete to have four outdoor all-conference and two indoor all-conference nods, along with La'Tisha Chambers in 2019.
Other highlights from Hamrick's season include qualifying for the NCAA East First Rounds in the 400m, joining Jaelynn Joiner (Long Jump) as the first qualifiers for Radford since 2022. Including relay results, Hamrick finished first in 12 races across the indoor and outdoor seasons. She set seven school records this season, including four as an individual, as well as the 300m and 400m Big South indoor records. Her 500m time at the Liberty Kickoff is the second-fastest in Big South history, and her 400m in the Big South Outdoor Championships stands as the third-fastest in conference history.
Hamrick becomes the fourth-ever Highlander to earn the award and first since Wellings since 2024. Other former Highlanders to be named Big South Athlete of the Year include Tiffany Evans (2006-07 and 2007-08) and NCAA All-American Khadijah Conda (1999-2000).
BIG SOUTH TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Women's Track Athlete of the Year – Jeylah Hamrick, So., Radford
Men's Track Athlete of the Year – Laden Beckwith, Fr., Charleston Southern
Women's Field Athlete of the Year – Maeva Tahou, So., Charleston Southern
Men's Field Athlete of the Year – Ricardo Montes de Oca, So., High Point
STAY SOCIAL WITH RADFORD CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD
For all the latest on Radford Cross Country and Track & Field, be sure to follow the team on X (@Radford TrackXC), Instagram (@radfordtrackxc), and "like" the team's official Facebook Page (Radford Cross Country and Track & Field).
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Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and FieldThursday, April 23
Sunday, April 12
Thursday, April 02
Saturday, March 21
