Womack, Eckford Named NCAA All-Americans
By Datti Jinkiri
Former Clinton High School track athletes Jayda Eckford and Olivia Womack were named NCAA Second-Team All-Americans yesterday. The All-American honors capped off an impressive year for the two former Arrows.
Womack and Eckford both participated in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships as a part of the Ole Miss Rebels’ 4×100 meter relay team. The relay team qualified for the national championships after running a school-record 43.83 seconds at the NCAA East Regional.
In Division I Track and Field, individuals or relay teams that finish first through eighth in their national championship event earn NCAA First-Team All-American honors. Those that finish ninth through 16th earn NCAA Second-Team All-American honors.
Though the Rebels did not qualify for the finals of the 4×100 relay, they finished in fourth in their semifinal heat and 14th overall with a time of 44.12 seconds. The 14th-place finish was good enough to earn the team NCAA Second-Team All-American honors.
For Eckford, this is her third NCAA Second-Team All-American honor. As a freshman in 2019, she earned honors in both the 200 meters and 4×100 meter relay. Since there was no 2020 NCAA meet, this is the second consecutive NCAA Outdoor Championship that she has earned All-American honors. Womack, who is a freshman, tallied the first All-American honor of her young career.
Both ladies were integral parts of Coach Johnathan Perkins’ Clinton High School team and contributed to the program that has now won eight consecutive MHSAA Class 6A State Championships.