by Larry EderJaida Ross Is Throwing Further and Aiming Higher
Jaida Ross stands in the ring with a calm that didn’t always come easy. At 23, the Oregon native has seen her share of pressure-packed moments, but she now carries herself with a quiet belief that she belongs at the top. After years of steady progress through high school, college, and now the professional circuit, she finds herself on the edge of her biggest breakthrough yet. The U.S. Trials are this
week, and with a top-three finish, Ross would secure her place at her first senior World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
It’s been a long time coming. Her rise in the women’s shot put has not been overnight, but her trajectory is hard to ignore. She opened her 2025 season with a modest 17.65 meters in Xiamen, then gradually found her rhythm over the months. A strong 19.62 meters at the Iron Wood Classic showed she was building. But it was at the Prefontaine Classic where she delivered her best throw yet with a 20.13 meters personal best mark, and a performance that placed her third behind Chase Jackson and Sarah Mitton.
Ross is now ranked second among American women this year, trailing only Jackson, the national leader and meet record holder. And while she still refers to the sport as “a joy ride,” the numbers suggest she is becoming one of the most consistent throwers in the country. Her 20-meter effort in Eugene wasn’t a fluke. She backed it up with a 20.00-meter toss on her third attempt and closed with 19.64. The performance showed depth, not luck.
She’ll need more of that in Eugene when she returns for the Trials. The shot put at this level is unforgiving, and with throwers like Maggie Ewen and Mya Lesnar also in form, the margin for error is small. Still, Ross knows the ring at Hayward Field well. She has won NCAA titles there. She has competed against world-class athletes in front of home fans. That comfort could be a difference-maker as she tries to make her first U.S. team for a senior global championship.
What makes Ross stand out isn’t only the strength behind her throws. It’s how she carries herself in a sport often dominated by older, more experienced athletes. Ross has handled the transition from college to pro with a sense of purpose and personal pride.
“I take pride in showing that world-class athletes come in all shapes and sizes,” she said after her performance at Pre. She knows the impact her presence can have, especially on young girls who don’t always see themselves reflected in the sport’s biggest stars.
For Ross, this journey started in Medford, where she first discovered her love for throwing. Back then, she had dreams of becoming a professional athlete, though she imagined it would be on a soccer field. Somewhere along the way, the shot put circle called her, and she answered. The discipline, the feel of the throw, and the moments of stillness before release became her space.
Now, as she prepares to return to the stadium that helped shape her, Ross is staying focused on the small details. Timing, positioning, and belief. She’s not thinking too far ahead, but the prospect of representing the U.S. in Tokyo is becoming more real by the day. With her recent performances, she has put herself in that conversation. She’s not chasing anyone anymore. She’s measuring herself against the mark, and more often than not, she’s landing where she wants to be.
The next step is qualifying. But whatever happens in Eugene, one thing is clear: Jaida Ross has grown into a force. And she’s still climbing.
