South Carolina’s best: Westwood senior standout named Gatorade Track Athlete of Year
For the second straight year, a Westwood athlete has been named the Gatorade South Carolina Girls Track and Field athlete of the year.
Redhawks senior Ticora Gaskin won the honor on Wednesday, a year after teammate Brianna Rodriguez earned the award. It is the fifth straight year a Midlands athlete has won the award. Airport’s Jayla Jamison won three straight from 2019-2021 and is now at the University of South Carolina.
Gaskin, a Campbell University signee, won the Class 4A long jump championship at the state meet. A week before that, she set a state record with her jump of 20-feet, 3-inches in the state qualifying meet. The jump was the 12th-best in the nation.
Gaskin broke the record held by former Fort Dorchester standout and 2020 Olympic gold medalist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn.
Gaskin also finished second in the 200 meter race in helping the Redhawks to a tie for first with Ridge View in the state. It was the first team championship in Westwood school history.
Outside of track, Gaskin holds a 3.37 GPA and has been an active member of her local church, including singing in youth and teen choirs and performing with the liturgical dance ministry. She has also volunteered with a soup kitchen in addition to serving as a teen usher, youth assistant teacher and Vacation Bible School.
Midlands SC Gatorade Players of Year
A list of Midlands girls track and field athletes who have won S.C. Gatorade Player of the Year since the award has been handed out in 1986.
2023: Ticora Gaskin, Westwood
2022: Brianna Rodriguez, Westwood
2019-2021: Jayla Jamison, Airport
2005-06: Kate Niehaus, Spring Valley
1998-99: Curtrell Frye, Irmo
1997: Andrea Hallmon, Lower Richland
1992-94: Monique Hennagan, Spring Valley
