The Georgia women’s track and field team secured its inaugural outdoor national championship on Saturday, showcasing outstanding performances across multiple events. Their impressive total of 73 points placed them well ahead of second-place USC, who scored 47 points, and third-place Texas A&M, which garnered 43 points.

Fourth-year head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert, who previously led USC to national titles in 2018 and 2021, celebrated this significant achievement with the Bulldogs.

Key Highlights of the Championship

• 400 Meters: Olympic gold medalist Aaliyah Butler and teammate Dejanea Oakley dominated the 400 meters, clinching the top two spots. Butler clocked an impressive 49.26 seconds, ranking her fifth in collegiate history, while Oakley finished closely behind at 49.65 seconds, securing the eighth-best time.
• High Jump: Elena Kulichenko triumphed in the high jump, securing first place with a leap of 6 feet, 5 inches. This victory came after she shared the title last year.
• 400-Meter Hurdles: Freshman Michelle Smith contributed to the team’s success by finishing third in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 55.20 seconds, helping clinch the championship.
• Triple Jump: Skylynn Townsend added to the points total with a sixth-place finish in the triple jump, achieving a distance of 44 feet, 4.25 inches.
• 4×400 Meter Relay: The Bulldogs capped off the night with a victory in the 4×400 meter relay, finishing in 3:23.62, thanks to Butler’s strong final leg.

Path to Victory

Entering the final day of competition, Georgia was already leading with 26 points, following a stellar performance by Stephanie Ratcliffe, who won the hammer throw on Thursday with a standout distance of 234 feet, 2 inches.

While Washington and USC initially shared the lead after events on Saturday, with Washington’s Sophie O’Sullivan winning the 1,500 meters and USC’s Samirah Moody claiming the 100 meters, Georgia quickly surged ahead, receiving an exceptional 18 points from the outstanding efforts of Butler and Oakley.

The team also collected additional points from two strong performances in the javelin, where freshman Manuela Rotundo secured second place and Lianna Davidson finished fourth. Senior Keslie Murrell-Ross rounded out the scoring by taking sixth in the shot put.