Top 20 Athletics & Sports from Durham on Instagram Influencers by Follower Growth

Last updated: November 10, 2026

Total Athletics & Sports Influencers in Durham, United States of America

148

Expected Reach

1.1M

Total Followers

3.6M

Avg Engagement

5.96%

Top 20 Creators

RankInfluencerLocationFollowersEngagementMonthly GrowthScore
1
Kara Lawson
@karalawson
Speaking Inquiries- Jeme.Obeime@caa.com Other Inquiries- Ali.Hoesly@duke.edu
Durham, United States of America
76.1K
Followers
6.60%
Engagement
+2.0%(+1.5K)
8.7
2
KIT
@jkit05
$TAIN E.S.N 🥷🏿 Bryant Street🤱🏾
Durham, United States of America
15.8K
Followers
5.76%
Engagement
+4.6%(+688)
8.4
3
Jada Stone
@jada.stoneee
@tnawrestling Knockout. 9/8c EVERY Thursday On @amc_tv . The Spark 🔥 bookjadastonepro@gmail.com
Durham, United States of America
15.7K
Followers
3.91%
Engagement
+3.6%(+550)
8.8
4
Sam Durham
@samm_durhamm
@essendonfc @kapitalsportsgroup @nike
Durham, United States of America
37.7K
Followers
16.42%
Engagement
+1.2%(+457)
8.7
5
Luke Altmyer
@lukealtmyer
Look to the Stars @detroitlionsnfl Business Inquiries: peter@qbreps.com
Durham, United States of America
37.2K
Followers
24.93%
Engagement
+1.2%(+454)
6.6
6
Mark Williams
@markwilliams
757 // @Jumpman23
Durham, United States of America
134.2K
Followers
6.76%
Engagement
+0.3%(+389)
7.0
7
Josh Lowe
@joshlowe2
@angels || @iamsecond
Durham, United States of America
26.1K
Followers
22.26%
Engagement
+1.2%(+314)
8.4
8
John Antonelli
@antonelli
Building @realapp Started @bball
Durham, United States of America
17.9K
Followers
25.82%
Engagement
+1.7%(+296)
9.5
9
Ella Stevens
@ellahstevens
@bostonlegacyfc Duke Alum @urbanwarriors606
Durham, United States of America
19.7K
Followers
0.23%
Engagement
+1.4%(+278)
5.4
10
Vanessa de Jesus
@vanessadejesus1
CA | 🇵🇭🇺🇸 |@ndwbb #2
Durham, United States of America
15.6K
Followers
15.54%
Engagement
+1.2%(+191)
9.5
11
QUINN RILEY
@_quinn_riley_
Pro Golfer 🇯🇲 | NC📍 Junior Golf Consultant Duke Alum | PGA Tour Americas Partnerships: w.quinnriley@gmail.com @callawaygolf
Durham, United States of America
10.1K
Followers
2.14%
Engagement
+1.7%(+169)
6.9
12
Chris Benjamin
@chris.benjamin
🇬🇧 🇿🇦 Professional cricketer @kentcricket @casports.official Represented by @uniquesgcricket Ex Durham University
Durham, United States of America
13.4K
Followers
8.81%
Engagement
+1.2%(+156)
9.2
13
Eric Shelton
@e_shel10
6x Natural Pro Champion Founder @Egoless Strength Results-driven coaching for serious athletes Online Coaching | Prep | Posing Trainer - @e2mpremium
Durham, United States of America
6.9K
Followers
3.43%
Engagement
+1.9%(+131)
8.3
14
Home Run REMINGTON
@homerunremington
Hi! I work as a Rehabilitative Facility Dog with UNC Sports Medicine. I am the Medical Alert Assistance Dog for one of the Athletic Trainer’s.
Durham, United States of America
12.6K
Followers
6.32%
Engagement
+1.0%(+129)
9.0
15
Emma Durham
@emmastickl
@pennswimdive Assistant Coach 3X NCAA Champion
Durham, United States of America
8.3K
Followers
17.87%
Engagement
+1.1%(+92)
8.6
16
Charlie Engle
@charlieengle
🏃 I RAN the SAHARA! (👁️ the 🎥) Traded drugs 4 Ultra Endurance! 🎤 Motivational Speaker 📖“Running Man” #englerunningman 🥗Plant-based 🙌🏻33yrs+ Sober
Durham, United States of America
16.3K
Followers
12.66%
Engagement
+0.4%(+70)
6.9
17
Mackenzie Mae Cole
@mackamae
Duke & UCLA Raya@rayalityworks.com
Durham, United States of America
10.0K
Followers
43.38%
Engagement
+0.6%(+63)
8.5
18
Sofia Melluzzi
@fifihorseworld
10 year old showjumper 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇧🇷🇮🇹 WEF • Pony Finals • Catch Rides Show life • Training • Behind the scenes By mum @hartleyhorses Collabs + codes ↓
Durham, United States of America
28.2K
Followers
1.31%
Engagement
+0.2%(+56)
7.6
19
Erica Shepherd
@erica_shepherd35
Colossians 3:23 // CG ‘19 // Duke '23 @bettinardigolf @suncastcorp @knaufnorthamerica
Durham, United States of America
12.2K
Followers
10.16%
Engagement
+0.5%(+56)
6.2
20
Bryce Jarvis
@bryce.jarvis28
Duke | Dbacks
Durham, United States of America
5.0K
Followers
34.26%
Engagement
+1.1%(+55)
8.5

About This Instagram Influencer Ranking

Discover the most influential creators in Durham with our comprehensive ranking of the top 20 influencers on Instagram who post Athletics & Sports content. This data‑driven analysis identifies the content creators who are shaping conversations, driving trends, and commanding the highest engagement rates in 2026.

Key Insights & Metrics

  • Combined Reach: 1.1M potential impressions across all ranked influencers
  • Total Audience: 3.6M followers collectively following these creators
  • Average Engagement Rate: 5.96% - significantly above industry average
  • Market Coverage: 148 total influencers analyzed in this category

Audience Demographics & Reach

Audience analysis is currently unavailable.

  • Top Markets: no data
  • Gender Distribution: no data
  • Primary Age Group: no data
  • Languages: no data

Why This Ranking Matters

For brands and marketers, this ranking provides essential intelligence for:

  • Identifying high-performing influencers for partnership opportunities
  • Understanding audience demographics for targeted campaigns
  • Benchmarking engagement rates and growth metrics
  • Discovering emerging talent with strong growth trajectories
  • Analyzing competitive landscape in Athletics & Sports niche

For content creators, these insights help with:

  • Understanding industry benchmarks and performance standards
  • Identifying successful content strategies from top performers
  • Network building and collaboration opportunities
  • Setting realistic growth targets based on peer performance

Methodology & Data Freshness

Our rankings are generated using advanced algorithms that analyze multiple performance indicators:

  • Profile Score: Proprietary metric combining reach, engagement, and growth
  • Engagement Rate: Average interaction rate across recent content
  • Growth Velocity: Month-over-month follower growth and momentum
  • Content Consistency: Posting frequency and audience retention
  • Audience Quality: Authenticity scores and demographic relevance

Data is refreshed weekly to ensure you're always working with the most current information. Last update includes performance data through November 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the fastest‑growing Athletics & Sports creator in Durham on Instagram?

Kara Lawson (@karalawson) is, as of November 2026, the fastest‑growing Athletics & Sports creator in Durham on Instagram, with +2.0% monthly growth (+1.5K followers).

How many followers did Kara Lawson (@karalawson) gain last month?

Kara Lawson (@karalawson) gained about 1.5K followers last month (+2.0%).

Who grew more: Kara Lawson (@karalawson) or KIT (@jkit05)?

Kara Lawson (@karalawson) grew more than KIT (@jkit05) (1.5K vs 688).

How is KIT (@jkit05) performing right now?

KIT (@jkit05) is growing at +4.6% (+688) per month, with a Profile Score of 8.4 and average engagement of 5.76%.

How is Jada Stone (@jada.stoneee) performing right now?

Jada Stone (@jada.stoneee) is growing at +3.6% (+550) per month, with a Profile Score of 8.8 and average engagement of 3.91%.

How is Sam Durham (@samm_durhamm) performing right now?

Sam Durham (@samm_durhamm) is growing at +1.2% (+457) per month, with a Profile Score of 8.7 and average engagement of 16.42%.

How is Luke Altmyer (@lukealtmyer) performing right now?

Luke Altmyer (@lukealtmyer) is growing at +1.2% (+454) per month, with a Profile Score of 6.6 and average engagement of 24.93%.

Who had the higher percentage growth: KIT (@jkit05) or Jada Stone (@jada.stoneee)?

KIT (@jkit05) leads (4.6% vs Jada Stone (@jada.stoneee) 3.6%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Kara Lawson (@karalawson)?

Kara Lawson (@karalawson) gained about 1.5K followers last month (+2.0%).

What is the absolute follower gain of KIT (@jkit05)?

KIT (@jkit05) gained about 688 followers last month (+4.6%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Jada Stone (@jada.stoneee)?

Jada Stone (@jada.stoneee) gained about 550 followers last month (+3.6%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Sam Durham (@samm_durhamm)?

Sam Durham (@samm_durhamm) gained about 457 followers last month (+1.2%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Luke Altmyer (@lukealtmyer)?

Luke Altmyer (@lukealtmyer) gained about 454 followers last month (+1.2%).

Is Kara Lawson (@karalawson) still a relevant creator?

Yes — Kara Lawson (@karalawson) has a Profile Score of 8.7, average engagement of 6.60%, and +2.0% (+1.5K) monthly follower growth, indicating high relevance.

What is a good engagement rate for Athletics & Sports in United States of America?

The average engagement rate for this category is 5.96%. Generally, rates above 7.1% are considered excellent, while rates above 4.8% are good. Engagement rates vary by platform, niche, and follower count - micro-influencers often have higher rates than mega-influencers.

How is the Profile Score calculated?

The Profile Score (0-10 scale) is a composite metric that weighs several factors: 40% engagement quality, 25% audience reach, 20% growth momentum, 10% content consistency, and 5% audience authenticity. A score above 7.0 indicates a high-performing influencer, while scores above 8.5 represent elite-tier creators.

Can I use this data for influencer marketing campaigns?

Yes! This ranking is designed to help brands, agencies, and marketers identify potential partnership opportunities. The data provides a starting point for campaign planning, competitor analysis, and market research. For detailed campaign analytics and contact information, consider upgrading to our professional tools.

What does monthly growth percentage mean?

Monthly growth shows the percentage change in followers over the past 30 days. Positive growth (green) indicates gaining followers, while negative growth (red) means losing followers. The number in parentheses shows the absolute follower change. High growth rates often indicate viral content or successful campaigns.

Why should I track influencers in Durham?

Location-specific influencer tracking is crucial for targeted marketing campaigns. Local influencers often have higher engagement rates within their geographic area, understand cultural nuances, and can drive better ROI for region-specific products or services. They're particularly valuable for retail, hospitality, and location-based businesses.

How can I improve my ranking as an influencer?

Focus on these key areas: (1) Increase engagement by creating content that encourages comments and shares, (2) Post consistently to maintain audience interest, (3) Use relevant hashtags to expand reach, (4) Collaborate with other creators in your niche, (5) Respond to comments to build community, and (6) Analyze your best-performing content and create similar pieces.

Note: This ranking represents a snapshot of current instagram influence based on publicly available data. Rankings can fluctuate based on content performance, platform algorithm changes, and audience behavior. Use this data as one of several factors in your decision-making process.