Medford's Jaida Ross qualified for Friday's finals in the women's shot put at the 2024 Olympic Summer Games with a throw of 18.58 meters Thursday in Paris, France.

Medford’s Jaida Ross barely missed making the podium Friday in the women’s shot put finals at the 2024 Olympic Summer Games in Paris.

Ross finished fourth with a throw of 19.28 meters (63 feet, 3 inches), missing a bronze medal by 0.04 meters.

Germany’s Yemisi Ogunleye (20.00) won the gold, while Madison-Lee Wesche of New Zealand (19.86) took silver and Jaiyuan Song of China (19.32) took bronze.

Twelve athletes advanced to Friday’s final, which began around 10:30 a.m. Pacific time.

During the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Ross finished third at 19.60 meters behind 2022 and 2023 world champion Chase Jackson (20.10) and runner-up Raven Saunders (19.90).

Ross first broke the NCAA women’s shot put record with her 19.71-meter throw (64-8) at the Triton Invitational on April 6, and equaled that performance three weeks later at the Desert Heat Classic to further give hopes to a promising finish to her season.

She later broke the collegiate record in the shot put for a second time this spring with her toss of 20.01 meters (65-7.75) during the NCAA West Preliminary on May 23 in Fayetteville, Ark. With that mark, she became the first collegian and just the seventh American woman ever to eclipse 20 meters.

Ross owns four of the top five throws in collegiate history in the women’s shot put, including her final mark of 19.57 meters (64-2.50) during the NCAA Championships June 6 at Hayward Field in Eugene.

During her prep days, Ross was a two-time state champion in the shot put (2017, 2019) as well as a state runner-up (2018) while competing for North Medford High. Ross was a title favorite in the shot put and discus (third in 2018 and 2019) but saw her senior year wiped out by the coronavirus. She graduated from Logos Public Charter School in 2020.

Rogue Valley Times Sports Editor Kris Henry was at the Jaida Ross watch party Friday at Lava Lanes in Medford. Check back at rv-times.com for complete coverage.