Jaida Ross
Ross in 2024 | |||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
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| Born | October 29, 2001 Medford, Oregon, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Education | University of Oregon (BA, MEd) | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||
| Country | United States | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics (track and field) | ||||||||||||||
| Events | |||||||||||||||
| University team | Oregon Ducks | ||||||||||||||
| Turned pro | April 2025 | ||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Brian Blutreich (2022–present) | ||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||
| Highest world ranking | |||||||||||||||
| Personal bests | |||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Jaida Ross (/ˈdʒeɪdə/ JAY-də; born October 29, 2001)[2] is an American track and field athlete who competes in shot put and discus throw.[1] She represented the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where she placed fourth in women's shot put, and was the 2024 NCAA Division I champion in the event. Ross was the first collegiate woman to break 20 m (65 ft 7+1⁄4 in) in shot put.[3][4]
Early life and education
Ross was born on October 29, 2001, in Medford, Oregon, to mother Amanda Krug, a mental health professional.[5][6] She has a twin sister named Jazzlyn.[7]
Ross graduated from North Medford High School in 2020, where she was one of the top throwers in the country.[8][7] She attended the University of Oregon, earning a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2024 and a master's degree in prevention science in 2025, while also competing in shot put and discus for the Oregon Ducks.[9][10][11] She hopes to follow in her mother's steps to work in a helping profession in the future.[12]
Career
2020–2025: Collegiate career & Paris Olympics
Despite the cancelation of her senior season at North Medford High School due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Ross embarked on her collegiate career at the University of Oregon, competing in shot put and discus for the Oregon Ducks starting in the 2021 season.[3]
In 2022, Ross placed fifth in shot put at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships with a throw of 17.83 m (58 ft 5+3⁄4 in) and 9th in discus with a throw of 53.84 m (176 ft 7+1⁄2 in).[13]
In July 2023, she beat Jalani Davis to win gold in shot put at the 2023 U23 NACAC Championship with a throw of 18.35 m (60 ft 2+1⁄4 in).[14]
In April 2024, Ross set a new NCAA record in the women's shot put at the Triton Invitational in La Jolla, California, with a throw of 19.71 m (64 ft 7+3⁄4 in), breaking the record set by Adelaide Aquilla in 2022.[15][16] The next month, in May 2024, Ross broke her own NCAA shot put record at the 2024 NCAA Division I West First Rounds, with a throw of 20.01 m (65 ft 7+3⁄4 in).[17] In doing so, she became the first collegiate woman to pass the 20-meter mark in shot put, and just the seventh woman in American history.[18]
Ross was the 2024 NCAA Division I outdoor champion in shot put, with a throw of 19.57 m (64 ft 2+1⁄4 in), and placed second at the indoor championships, with a throw of 18.47 m (60 ft 7 in).[1]
Ross came in third at U.S. Olympic Trials with a throw of 19.60 m (64 ft 3+1⁄2 in), qualifying her for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, alongside teammates Chase Jackson and Raven Saunders.[1] At the Olympics, she placed fourth in shot put with a throw of 19.28 m (63 ft 3 in).[1]
In her final NCAA competition, Ross placed second at the 2025 Division I Indoor Championships with a throw of 18.98 m (62 ft 3 in), a personal best; Oregon was also the team champion.[19]
2025–present: Professional career
Ross turned pro in April 2025, announcing that month that she had signed with Nike.[20] She participated in her first Diamond League events that year, taking part in the Xiamen and Shanghai events, and placing third with a personal best of 20.13 m (66 ft 1⁄2 in) at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.[21]
Personal life
Growing up, Ross looked up to Olympic gold medal shot putter Michelle Carter, saying, "I love what she does for the throws world, I love what she does for the Black community."[22] Ross competed alongside Carter at the 2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Ross' first championships and Carter's last before retiring from competition.[22]
Competition history
All results are from World Athletics.
International competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | NACAC U23 Championships | San Jose, Costa Rica | 1st | Shot put | 18.35 m (60 ft 2+1⁄4 in) | — |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 4th | Shot put | 19.28 m (63 ft 3 in) | — |
National competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | USA Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 11th | Shot put | 17.31 m (56 ft 9+1⁄4 in) | — |
| 2023 | USA Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 6th | Shot put | 17.82 m (58 ft 5+1⁄2 in) | — |
| 2024 | United States Olympic Trials | Eugene, Oregon | 3rd | Shot put | 19.60 m (64 ft 3+1⁄2 in) | — |
NCAA competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Division I Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 5th | Shot put | 17.83 m (58 ft 5+3⁄4 in) | SB |
| 9th | Discus | 53.84 m (176 ft 7+1⁄2 in) | — | |||
| 2023 | Division I Indoor Championships | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 8th | Shot put | 17.56 m (57 ft 7+1⁄4 in) | — |
| Division I Championships | Austin, Texas | 5th | Shot put | 18.11 m (59 ft 4+3⁄4 in) | — | |
| 2024 | Division I Indoor Championships | Boston, Massachusetts | 2nd | Shot put | 18.47 m (60 ft 7 in) | — |
| Division I Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 1st | Shot put | 19.57 m (64 ft 2+1⁄4 in) | — | |
| 14th | Discus | 54.99 m (180 ft 4+3⁄4 in) | — | |||
| 2025 | Division I Indoor Championships | Virginia Beach, Virginia | 2nd | Shot put | 18.98 m (62 ft 3 in) | PB |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Jaida Ross". World Athletics. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ "ROSS Jaida". Paris 2024 Olympics. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
- ^ a b Hof-Mahoney, Paul (June 4, 2024). "Catching Up With Shot Put Collegiate Record Holder Jaida Ross". CITIUS Mag. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ Clarke, Ross (May 24, 2024). "Medford's Ross breaks own NCAA record". Rogue Valley Times. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ Storm, Emily (August 5, 2024). "Mom invites community to cheer on Jaida Ross". KOBI-TV NBC5. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ Clarke, Ryan (June 25, 2024). "Seeking first Olympics bid, Ross finds her center". Rogue Valley Times. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Ulmer, Jerry (May 1, 2020). "Girls track: For UO-bound Ross, season was filled with promise". OSAAtoday. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Denney, Jarrid (June 9, 2022). "Oregon's Jaida Ross becomes All-American, places fifth in shot put at NCAA Championships". Scoop Duck. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Clarke, Ryan (May 24, 2024). "Oregon Ducks thrower Jaida Ross breaks own NCAA record in shot put, surpassing 20 meters". Oregon Live. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Elfman, Lois (June 5, 2025). "Community Counts, Female Sport Scholar of the Year". Diverse: Issues In Higher Education. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
- ^ Henry, Kris (July 8, 2025). "Medford's Jaida Ross sends powerful message with shot put exploits". Rogue Valley Times. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
- ^ Shontz, Lori (June 24, 2024). "Oregon's Jaida Ross in Position to 'Shake Things Up' in Women's Shot Put". DyeStat. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ Hansen, Chris (June 5, 2022). "Oregon's Jaida Ross, Kemba Nelson shine at NCAA Track & Field Championship". The Register-Guard. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Boal, Erik (July 22, 2023). "Cavanaugh's Double, Brahe-Pedersen's Record, 5,000 and Shot Put Sweeps Part of 11 U.S. Golds to Open NACAC U23 Championships". DyeStat. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Hansen, Chris (April 7, 2024). "Oregon Duck Jaida Ross becomes women's collegiate record holder in the shot put". The Register-Guard. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Hansen, Chris (May 2, 2024). "Oregon shot putter Jaida Ross rises to throw farther than anyone in collegiate history". The Register-Guard. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Rodriguez, Kylie (May 24, 2024). "Jaida Ross Breaks NCAA Shot Put Record At West Regionals". Flo Track. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ "Jaida Ross 1st Place Women's Shot Put - Collegiate Record 65-7.75 (20.01 m) - NCAA D1 West Outdoor Preliminary Round 2024". Dyestat. May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ "Event Index: Women Shot Put". 2025 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. March 16, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
- ^ @jaida_uothrows (April 20, 2025). "I'm super excited to announce that I've officially signed with @nikerunning…". Instagram. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
- ^ "World records for Chebet at 5000m and Kipyegon at 1500m in Eugene". World Athletics. July 5, 2025. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
- ^ a b Hansen, Chris (June 28, 2024). "U.S. Olympic Trials Day 8: Oregon star Jaida Ross takes center stage in women's shot put". The Register-Guard. Retrieved August 27, 2024.