Star sprinter Zaya Akins of Raytown South follows coach from Kentucky to new program

Star sprinter Zaya Akins, a 2023 Raytown South High School grad, has signed with South Carolina, she and the school announced via Instagram on Wednesday.

Akins, an undefeated, eight-time Missouri state champion, signed with Kentucky in January but de-committed and reopened her recruitment on June 28. Her father, Eli, previously told the Star several schools reached out and the Akins were planning on a mid-July decision.

Tim Hall, who would’ve been Akins’ sprints coach at Kentucky, was named the new head coach at South Carolina on June 23, and Akins will now follow him to Columbia, S.C. Akins told the Star in a June interview that Hall reminded her a lot of her father.

“South Carolina was my only visit (after de-committing),” Akins told The Star via direct message Wednesday. “Coach Hall was probably the main factor for me choosing SC and everything else at the school was just a bonus.”

South Carolina’s first team national championship in any sport was the 2002 NCAA Outdoor title captured by the women’s track team. Gamecocks coach Curtis Frye produced 28 Olympians and 14 Olympic medalists in 27 years at South Carolina before retiring in June.

The history-laden program, which will also build on Hall’s success at Kentucky, seems an opportune place for Akins to chase her own Olympic aspirations.

Akins was twice named the Missouri Girls Track and Field Player of the Year and notably competed for Team USA at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships last August in Cali, Colombia.

The 5-foot-9, 17-year-old holds Missouri high school state records in the 200 and 400 meters and has been touted by those who’ve trained her as “the complete sprinter,” capable of succeeding in the 100, 200 and 400 at the next level.

Akins’ achievements were recently recognized via the Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine Center and 810 Varsity during Sporting Kansas City’s July 12 home soccer match against Real Salt Lake.

Akins will now look to add to her list of accomplishments as a Gamecock, and hopefully beyond. Her father previously stated the goal of a Team USA spot for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.