TF2K23

As we march through 2022, the track and field season will be here before we know it. When December comes, Winners Only is usually at either Grand Valley State or Indiana covering some of the first indoor track meets of the season. Why wait until December. We're so ready for the track and field season that we're starting our previews in the early days of autumn. Take a break from your college football, NFL, Major League Baseball playoff pushes and even your college volleyball action. Let's take a peek at some of our favorite programs and athletes that we're most looking forward to seeing in 2023.

Taylor Beard

After sitting out both indoor and outdoor seasons due to injury, All-American Taylor Beard is back in action at Cincinnati. Beard had a thrilling second collegiate season which started with four first place finishes to begin the 2021 indoor season. Beard scored her highest mark of 1.83 which qualified her for the NCAA indoor championship meet, where she first became an All-American. During outdoor season she won her first American Athletic Conference gold medal in the high jump with a mark of 1.82. Beard followed that by qualifying for the NCAA Championships with a mark of 1.82 at the East Preliminary Round. She finished the outdoor season earning All-American honors for a second time after competing at NCAA Championships.

Nadia Collins

Nadia Collins showed potential during her freshman season as a Bearcat. She finished her season competing in the long jump at the NCAA East Preliminary Round. Collins earned wins in the long jump at the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational and Tennessee Relays. At the Tennessee Relays she jumped a season best mark of 6.10 meters. That mark was wind-aided at 3.4. Her top legal jump was 6.04 which was a third-place finish at the Clark Wood Invitational. During the indoor season Collins participated in the long jump and triple jump competitions at the American Athletic Conference championship meet.

Jayda Bushay

Jayda Bushay is an incoming freshman at Cincinnati. During her final high school season at Miami Northwestern, she was a state champion in the 1,600-meter relay. Along with taking that crown, she collected other medals at the state meet in Florida. Bushay won the silver medal in the 400 meters at 54.35 and the bronze in the 200 meters at 24.07. She competed in the high school divisions of the Florida Relays and Texas Relays. Bushay was a member of a foursome that placed second in the 1,600-meter relay and third in the 400-meter relay at the Florida Relays. She and her teammates recorded a top five finish in the 1,600-meter relay at the Texas Relays.

Alicia Thorpe

Alicia Thorpe is a sprinter from Highland Springs, Virginia, who hopes to make her mark in the Bearcats program. In previous years sprinters like Tionna Lattimore, Caisja Chandler and Faith Banks stood in front. Now Thorpe is a veteran and will have a strong opportunity to become a top performer in the program. Last season she earned a win in the 400 meters at the Tennessee Relays in very cold conditions with a time of 55.80. Thorpe also earned relay wins at the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational in the 400-meter relay and 1,600-meter relay as well. She also was on the winning squad of the 400-meter relay at the Billy Hayes Invitational. This season she is a potential threat to shine in the 200 and 400 meters in the American Athletic Conference.