TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, CMC— The British Virgin Islands has its first-ever NCAA Division I champion, and her name is Adaejah Hodge. The 19-year-old sensation from Tortola delivered a statement performance at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships this weekend, obliterating the field in the women’s 200-meter dash to etch her name into the territory’s sporting history books.
Representing the University of Georgia, the redshirt freshman didn’t just win; she dominated.
Hodge exploded down the track at the Randal Tyson Track Centre on Saturday, clocking a blistering 22.22 seconds, a time that now stands as the fourth-fastest in collegiate women’s history.
Her victory was emphatic, finishing 0.33 seconds clear of Florida’s Gabrielle Matthews, who took silver in 22.55 seconds. Baylor’s Tiriah Kelley rounded out the podium with a bronze in 22.64 seconds.
Hodge’s weekend was a tour de force of sprinting. In addition to her historic gold, she secured a silver medal as the runner-up in the 60-meter dash.
Her incredible 18-point contribution was pivotal in powering the Georgia Bulldogs to the 2026 NCAA Championship Team Title.
While Hodge provided the fireworks, it was a senior teammate who provided the knockout punch for Georgia’s team title hopes.
Jamaican Dejanea Oakley delivered a performance for the ages in the women’s 400 meters. Coming off a bronze medal at the 2025 championships, Oakley entered the final with a point to prove. She didn’t just prove it; she shattered it.
Oakley crossed the line not only as a national champion but also in a national record-breaking time, single-handedly swinging a critical points gap in Georgia’s favour.
For a senior who had long shown she belonged on the biggest stage, it was the defining race of her collegiate career. Oakley now leaves the NCAA as a champion, with professional opportunities and international competition firmly in her sights.
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