Francis Marion University Athletics

FMU:  Lettered in cross country in 2023 and 2024....Conference Carolinas Academic All-Conference Team (T&F) 2025....Earned Frankie Award for Ray E. Thames Memorial Raise the Roof Award 2024-25....Conference Carolinas Academic All-Conference Team (XC) 2024....Competed in all four meets in 2024....Top finish was 9th at the Downback Invitational (9-6-24)....Finished 103rd at the 2024 Conference Carolinas Meet with a time of 29:59.0....Ran in all five 2023 XC meets....Placed 65th at 2023 Conference XC Meet....Was team's top finisher in first collegiate cross country meet (9-1-23)....Was FMU's second runner in two meets and third finisher in the other two meets....Top finish was 15th at Pfeiffer Invitational (9-16-23)....Track & Field Team MVP for 2024....Younger sister of MacKinley Perry....Local product....Part of the Honors College....Darla Moore Scholar....Member of The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS)....Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award 2025....FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll 2023 (fall), 2024 (spring, fall), 2025 (spring)....Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll 2023 (fall), 2024 (spring, fall), 2025 (spring).

PERSONAL:

• Born in Charleston, SC
• Graduate of West Florence High School, where she ran for coach Richard Wideman
• 2023 Female Athlete of the Year for FSD1 and West Florence
• Placed 7th in the 400m hurdles and 3rd in the 4x400m relay at the AAAA state track and field meet
• 4-sport athlete (cross country, track, volleyball, basketball)
• 2023 first-team All-Region for track
• 2-time first-team All-Region selection in volleyball
• 2022 Region 6-AAAA Defensive Player of the Year
• 1000 career digs
• 2022-23 honorable mention All-Region for basketball
• Earned seven Academic Awards covering three sports
• 2022-23 team captain for basketball, volleyball, and track
• Member of the National Honor Society
• Nickname is Jo

PERSONAL FAVORITES:

• As a child what you wanted to be when you grew up:  Surgeon
• How you got your nickname: JoJo’s Circus
• Favorite Fictional Character: Belle from Beauty and the Beast
• Favorite Athletes: Sydney McLaughlin and Tara Woodhall-Davis
• Favorite Sports Team:  FMU and South Carolina Gamecock Football
• Favorite Movie or TV Show:  Grease
• Favorite Foods:  Steak with mashed potatoes and Mac n’ cheese with gravy
• Favorite Vacation Spot: The mountains
• Favorite Musical Artist:  Brandon Lake and Morgan Wallen
• Favorite Thing About FMU:  The feeling of home you get the second you step on campus 
• Favorite Off-Field Activity:  Watching Paw Patrol with my 6 English bulldogs
• Goals for Upcoming Season:  To better myself for the good of my team and place higher than last year at conference
• Why you first chose your sport: My sister asked me to try it and I ended up falling in love with running
• Biggest mental challenge in your sport: Finding the push to keep running when your body is telling you to stop
• Interesting Notes:  I was the 2023 Female Athlete of the Year for FSD1 and West Florence; placed 7th in the 400m hurdles and 3rd in the 4x400m relay at the state meet; I placed at the Conference Carolinas Championship for the first time in school history with the 4x400 meter relay; was the FMU 2024 T&F MVP; I have six English bulldogs
• Brush With Greatness: I met Aliyah Boston and got a picture with her

 

CAREER BESTS
Best 5K Time	23:12.9 at 2023 Chanticleer Challenge (Coastal Carolina host)
Best 6K Time	27:52.6 at 2023 Conference Carolinas Championship Meet