Macon-Ford Qualifies for National Championships
KANSAS CITY, MO. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced UHSP freshman sprinter Leah Macon-Ford as a qualifier for the 2025 U.S. Marines NAIA Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships to be held in Gainesville, Fla., Feb. 27-Mar. 1.
Leah Macon-Ford is one of 20 athletes to qualify for the 60m Dash, following her record-breaking performance at the American Midwest Conference Championships (AMC) last weekend. She came away from the Conference meet with two AMC Champion titles in the 60m Dash and the 200m Dash, while improving her own UHSP records in each of those events. In the 60m Dash, Macon-Ford slashed .08 seconds off her previous best to run a new meet record of 7.66 and come within .01 of the national qualifying standard. After final declarations to participate were made on Tuesday night, Macon-Ford was among the top-20 athletes in the event and received an invitation to the NAIA Nationals.
Macon-Ford exploded onto the UHSP track and field scene this year, breaking school records at her very first collegiate meet. UHSP Head Track & Field Coach Maurice Lewis said he knew Macon-Ford had the potential to be a National Qualifier and that she trusted the UHSP coaching staff and the process from the beginning - doing everything asked of her.
"Just like each of my incoming freshmen, my expectation from Leah in the beginning of the season is to first and foremost, become acclimated to the demands of a collegiate Student-Athlete (academically, athletically, mentally, and socially)," said Lewis. "Second, the goal is to peak in time for Conference Championships by improving each week. In doing that we'll live with the results. For Leah, it resulted in a National Qualifying time!"
Macon-Ford becomes the first Eutectic woman in history to qualify for the Indoor National Championships. There have been only two Eutectics from the Women's Track & Field program ever to have qualified for the Outdoor National Championships: Amy Hall (2007, 2008) and Sarah Pollmann (2015) – both in the Marathon.
Coach Lewis said he is excited for Macon-Ford and hopes she will enjoy the moment.
"For Nationals, I want Leah to have fun and soak it all in," said Lewis. "The first time to the party can be a little overwhelming, especially as a freshman. But, I want her to see that she belongs there. She is a competitor, so I'm confident she will step up to the challenge and compete. Since she made it to Nationals, might as well try to get that All-American stamp!"
Macon-Ford currently holds the 20th time (7.66) of all the 2025 60m qualifiers.