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T/F: Georgia Women Win First National Outdoor Title
The Georgia women’s track and field team exploded for 73 points to win its first national outdoor title by 26 points as the NCAA Championships wrapped up on Saturday.
Senior Elena Kulichenko (high jump), junior Aaliyah Butler (400-meter dash) and Butler, Michelle Smith, Dejanea Oakley and Sydney Harris (4x400m relay) captured national crowns while Oakley collected silver in the 400m, Smith managed bronze in the 400m hurdles and freshman Skylynn Townsend posted a personal best to take sixth in the triple jump.
Final Women’s Team Scores: Finishing behind Georgia (73 points) were USC (47), Texas A&M (43), Washington (31) and Illinois (29.5) in the top five.
This squad of 16 Bulldogs, including a relay alternate for both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, represents seven different nations and features six first-timers at the meet and four true freshmen. Georgia finished as the runner-up in back-to-back years in 2017-18, and its 2025 point total of 73 is a school record, topping the 62.2 in 2017.
While this is the first NCAA outdoor team title for the Georgia women, they did capture the 2018 indoor team championship. The Bulldogs’ outdoor crown is the 52nd overall team national championship for UGA, including the men’s outdoor championship in Eugene in 2018, tying LSU and Arkansas for the second most team titles in the SEC. This is the fourth national championship for UGA this academic year after women’s tennis won the indoor and outdoor crowns and equestrian captured the championship.
Director of Track & Field Caryl Smith Gilbert adds the 2025 championship to her 2018 and 2021 women’s titles while leading USC’s program. Smith Gilbert was also on Tennessee’s staff when the indoor squad won the 2005 championship. With Saturday’s championship, Smith Gilbert becomes the first collegiate female coach to win NCAA track and field championships at two separate schools.
“We worked really, really, really hard and we have a team that is starting to form into something that will be a great program,” Smith Gilbert said. “It’s very important to me for us to have points all over the place. Track and field is track and field so we made a point this year and for the future to build all parts of the program, not just the sprints. I have the greatest coaching staff on the planet and a Director of Athletics in Josh Brooks and a president in Jere Morehead who support our program to no end. I am so proud to bring home this championship to Athens.”
Meet Schedule: Other than the decathlon running Wednesday-Thursday and the heptathlon going Friday-Saturday, the meet was set up to be a men’s competition on Wednesday and Friday and a women’s competition on Thursday and Saturday.
Wednesday/Thursday/Friday Highlights: Georgia only had a pair of high jumpers compete on Friday and senior transfer Eddie Kurjak tied for eighth place and earned First Team All-America honors after coming from a NCAA Division II program.
During the women’s first day of action on Thursday, graduate transfer Stephanie Ratcliffe won her second career hammer throw title and became the first NCAA representative to accomplish the feat at two separate schools and in non-consecutive years. Freshman Manuela Rotundo and senior Lianna Davidson finished second and fourth in the javelin to give Georgia its first pair of scorers in the event since two Bulldogs were in the top eight in 2005. Finally, senior Kelsie Murrell-Ross steadily improved during her series to finish sixth in the shot put, becoming the first to earn scoring All-America honors in the event for UGA since 2000.
On Wednesday, senior transfer Moustafa Alsherif finished fourth in the javelin to give the Bulldog men a scorer in the event for the fourth straight year. Also, freshman Jayden Keys complemented his Southeastern Conference long jump title with an eighth-place finish in the event to score for the men.
Full Results: To check out live results throughout the four-day season finale, please check: https://gado.gs/da0
The Lowdown: Kulichenko, a Ondintsovo, Russia, native, shared the national crown in 2024 but left no doubt as she claimed her first sole title in the high jump. Coming in at 1.84 meters/6-0.50 on Saturday, Kulichenko went over five heights, including the winning mark of 1.96m/6-5, on her first try and topped Illinois’ Rose Yeboah for the championship. This is UGA’s fourth national championship in the event.
Butler, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native, collected her first individual national championship in the 400m and the second in school history (Lynna Irby, 2018). She came in as the national leader and left with a fresh school record and became the No. 5 all-time collegiate performer. Only one member of the field, Butler’s teammate Dejanea Oakley, came within striking distance of her.
Oakley, who hails from Clarendon, Jamaica, sped to her own personal record of 49.65 to earn the silver medal as Georgia tallied 18 points in the event to take control of the meet. Oakley’s time dropped Irby’s previous No. 2 time in the school record books to No. 3.
Butler later combined with Smith, Oakley and Harris to win Georgia’s first women’s 4x400m relay outdoors in history. Topping the school record and taking over the No. 8 spot on the collegiate all-time performers’ list, the Bulldogs passed the baton around for a 3:23.62 to top Arkansas (3:24.25) for gold. Butler scorched an anchor leg of 48.79 to move into the overall lead during the final 100 meters and put an exclamation mark on Georgia’s point total.
Arriving on the Oregon campus seeded 11th nationally, Townsend, a native of Prosper, Texas, posted six fair attempts in the triple jump and topped out at a personal record to finish sixth at her first Nationals. Townsend’s second try of 13.52m/44-4.50 situated her in sixth place with a comfortable cushion as she joined the great four-time NCAA outdoor triple jump champion Keturah Orji as a UGA First Team All-American.
Bulldog Day 1 Scorers
Name Event Mark/Time – Place
Moustafa Alsherif M. Javelin 76.69m/251-7 – 4th
Jayden Keys M. Long Jump 7.80m/25-7.25 – 8th
Bulldog Day 2 Scorers
Stephanie Ratcliffe W. Hammer Throw *71.37m/234-2 – 1st
Manuela Rotundo W. Javelin 60.35m/198-0 – 2nd
Lianna Davidson W. Javelin 59.03m/193-8
Kelsie Murrell-Ross W. Shot Put 17.80m/58-4.75
*national leading mark
Bulldog Day 3 Scorers
Eddie Kurjak M. High Jump 2.15m/7-0.50 – T-8th
Bulldog Day 4 Scorers
Elena Kulichenko W. High Jump 1.96m/6-5 – 1st
Aaliyah Butler W. 400m *^49.26 – 1st
Michelle Smith W. 400mH 55.20 – 3rd
Skylynn Townsend W. Triple Jump ^13.52m/44-4.25 – 6th
Dejanea Oakley W. 400m ^49.65 – 2nd
Butler, Smith W. 4x400m Relay *^3:23.62
Oakley, S. Harris
Final Team Standings (top 10)
MEN
T-1. Texas A&M (41 pts.)
T-1. USC (41)
3. Arkansas (40)
4. Auburn (35)
5. New Mexico (31)
6. Oklahoma (30.5)
7. Minnesota (25)
T-8. Florida (22)
T-8. Kentucky (22)
T-8. Ole Miss (22)
45. GEORGIA (6.33)
WOMEN
1. GEORGIA (73)
2. USC (47)
3. Texas A&M (43)
4. Washington (31)
5. Illinois (29.5)
6. Stanford (29)
7. South Carolina (28)
8. Arkansas (26)
9. New Mexico (25)
T-10. Oregon (23)
T-10. Texas (23)
Georgia’s 2025 Running Back Roster: Rhinos and Gazelles
1. Roderick Robinson II (R-So., 6’1″, 235 lbs, San Diego, CA)
A powerful downhill runner with excellent size, Robinson is expected to handle short-yardage and red-zone duties. He displayed moments of physical dominance in 2024 but was hindered by injuries. He is set to take on a larger role in 2025 as a reliable back capable of running between the tackles.
2. Nate Frazier (So, 5-10, 210, Compton, CA)
Frazier blends speed with compact strength, making him a dynamic option in open space. As a former standout at powerful Mater Dei High School in California, his upside as an all-purpose back has coaches excited for his sophomore season.
3. Dwight Phillips Jr. (So, 5-10, 175, Mableton, GA)
Phillips, one of the fastest players on the team, poses a home-run threat every time he touches the ball. Despite being undersized, his track speed and elusiveness make him a valuable asset in screen passes and outside zone runs.
4. Bo Walker (Fr, 5-9, 210, Ellenwood, GA)
Walker is a robust freshman runner with a low center of gravity and excellent balance. He is expected to be a physical runner who can quickly contribute to special teams and short-yardage situations.
5. Micah Bell (R-So, 5-10, 185, Houston, TX)
Bell is a versatile back with strong receiving skills from the backfield. He provides depth, particularly in third-down situations where quickness and route running are crucial.
6. Gannon Hearst (R-Jr, 6-0, 200, Johns Creek, GA)
A legacy name with solid stature, Hearst brings experience and strong leadership. While not expected to start, he may see opportunities in mop-up duty or special teams.
7. Wade Penn (R-Fr, 5-10, 200, Atlanta, GA)
Penn is still developing, but he has impressed with his effort and vision during scout team practice. If injuries occur, his physical style could earn him playing time later in the season.
8. Cash Jones (R-Sr, 6-0, 182, Brock, TX)
Jones is a veteran presence and one of UGA’s most trusted special teams contributors. He is also a reliable third-down back with excellent pass-protection skills and soft hands as a receiver.
9. Chauncey Bowens (R-Fr, 5-11, 225, Port St. Lucie, FL)
Bowens has an SEC-ready physique and is a powerful runner with surprising agility for his size. Coaches are optimistic about his long-term potential, and he could compete for a rotation role by midseason.
10. Brandon Mathis (R-Jr, 6-0, 215, Fayetteville, GA)
Mathis adds depth to the position and has demonstrated the ability to contribute on special teams. He is a physical runner who plays with a north-south mentality.
11. Jacob Hardie (R-Jr., 5-9, 180, Olney, MD)
Hardie brings valuable experience to the team, primarily serving as a scout team back. Known for his exceptional work ethic, he contributes significantly to practice sessions.
This unit offers a wide range of skill sets—from Phillips’ speed and Frazier’s burst to Robinson’s physicality and Bowens’ bruising style. While Georgia lacks a clear-cut superstar at the position, the depth and diversity of talent suggest a by-committee approach that could be very effective in 2025.
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