Jaida Ross

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Jaida Ross
Discus
University teamOregon Ducks
Coached byBrian Blutreich (2022-2024)
Achievements and titles
Highest world ranking
  • 8th (shot put, 2024)[1]
  • 66th (discus, 2024)[1]
Personal bests
  • Shot put: 20.01 m (65 ft 7+3⁄4 in) (2024)[1]
  • Discus: 59.74 m (195 ft 11+3⁄4 in) (2024)[1]
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  United States
NACAC U23 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 San Jose Shot put

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 earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Oregon in 2024, where she has competed in shot put and discus for the Oregon Ducks since 2021.[9] As of June 2024, Ross is working on a master's degree in prevention science; she hopes to follow in her mother's steps to work in a helping profession in the future.[10]

Career

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).[11]

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).[12]

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.[13][14] 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).[15] 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.[16]

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.[17]

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."[18] Ross competed alongside Carter at the 2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Ross' first championships and Carter's last before retiring from competition.[18]

Competition history

All results are from World Athletics.

International competitions

Representing the  United States
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

Representing Oregon Ducks and University of Oregon
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

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Jaida Ross". World Athletics. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "Jaida Ross". Olympics.com. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Hof-Mahoney, Paul (June 4, 2024). "Catching Up With Shot Put Collegiate Record Holder Jaida Ross". CITIUS Mag. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  4. ^ Clarke, Ross (May 24, 2024). "Medford's Ross breaks own NCAA record". Rogue Valley Times. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  5. ^ Storm, Emily (August 5, 2024). "Mom invites community to cheer on Jaida Ross". KOBI-TV NBC5. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Clarke, Ryan (June 25, 2024). "Seeking first Olympics bid, Ross finds her center". Rogue Valley Times. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Ulmer, Jerry (May 1, 2020). "Girls track: For UO-bound Ross, season was filled with promise". OSAAtoday. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Hansen, Chris (June 5, 2022). "Oregon's Jaida Ross, Kemba Nelson shine at NCAA Track & Field Championship". The Register-Guard. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Rodriguez, Kylie (May 24, 2024). "Jaida Ross Breaks NCAA Shot Put Record At West Regionals". Flo Track. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "Event Index: Women Shot Put". 2025 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. March 16, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  18. ^ 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.
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