“When I think about Jan’Taijah, the first words that come to mind are perseverance, strength and determination. This young lady has preserved through social and economic challenges to become one of Florida’s most decorated female athletes. Throughout that time, she has displayed impeccable personal qualities on and off the track. Ms. Ford is an exceptional and multi-talented person with a great character and superb work ethic.”

Duchane Thomas

Head Coach - Northeast co-head coach

Athletic Excellence

The 5-foot-7 senior swept the 200- and 400-meter dash events at the 3A state meet, leading the Hurricanes to a third-place finish as a team. At the time of her selection, her personal-best 400 clocking of 51.57 seconds to capture gold at the Great Southwest Classic ranked No. 2 nationally among prep competitors in the event in 2019. Her PR in the 200 (23.30) ranked No. 6 and her PR in the 100 was No. 33 in the country.

Academic Achievement

Ford has maintained a state CUM GPA of 3.33 in the classroom and has signed a national letter of intent to compete on an athletic scholarship at the University of Southern California beginning this fall.

Exemplary Character

A mentee with the Women of Tomorrow youth empowerment organization since 2017, Ford will become the first member of her family to graduate high school and attend college. A former quad-bike racer, she has volunteered on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club Summer Program, helping young people build self-esteem, develop leadership skills, enhance their potential, increase their physical activity and expand their cultural awareness.