LOS ANGELE-USC Superwoman Alexis Faulknor was everything and all things in the Trojans’ dual meet against cross town rival UCLA on Sunday, May 3. With the Pac-12 prelims and championships now here over the next two weeks, and the NCAA championships right around the corner, it is likely that Faulknor will be asked to do quite a bit more.
It’s been nearly a week since Faulknor and her No. 2 ranked Trojans teammates took to the track. The Trojans wound up winning that dual competition by a slight hair, 93-70. Faulknor had everything to do with the outcome as anyone else. Let’s see, where do you want to start? Faulknor, a junior, had a hand in the Trojans’ winning 4×100 relay team. She came out and outjumped everybody, winning the long jump event with a leap of 20 feet, 5 inches.
She wasn’t finished. Capping off her big day was claiming the 100 meters in a swift time of 11.3 seconds. It was Faulknor’s best recorded time in the race, and it also placed her with some of the biggest names in USC track and field lore. Faulknor’s time in the 100 landed her at the No. 10 all-time spot as a Trojan. After teammate Ky Westbrook was eliminated from the race after being called for a false-start, Faulknor jumped out of the blocks quickly and sped home for the win.
“For me to run 11.30 after running the 4×100, taking some jumps, I’m very pleased,” Faulknor said after winning the 100. “I told my teammates we still had to carry on even though Ky false-started. We had to protect the shield no matter what, and I think we did a really great job doing that.”
As far as would she would be competing in as many events at the Pac-12 and national championships, Faulknor said she’s ready.
“All of them, maybe the 200, too,” Faulknor said. “It depends on who they need, and if they need me or not.”
As appreciative as Faulknor was with her performance, especially in the short sprint, she is looking to put on a better show at the Pac-12 and national championships.
“I want to run a 11.1 (seconds),” Faulknor said. “Time-wise, I want to run a 11.1. Of course, I want to win. That’s just the type of person I am. But this year, I have been focusing more on improving myself each week rather than winning. But when it comes to the championships, I want to win.”
Dennis is the editor and publisher of News4usonline. He covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, racial and social justice, civil rights, and HBCUs. Dennis earned a journalism degree from “The Mecca” aka Howard University. “I write on what I am passionate about.”