May 11, 2007

South Carolina’s two-time All-American Ronnetta Alexander looks to bring home an SEC Championship for the Gamecocks this weekend. The Williamsville, N.Y. native, who brings much leadership and talent to this year’s team, has five top five finishes this year. She sat down with uscsports.com to discuss the SEC Track and Field Championships.

USC: How many SEC Championships have you participated in?

RA: I’ve never missed one. I’ve been in every last one and have scored in every one. (4th SEC Outdoor Championship trip)

USC: What events will you be competing in this year?

RA: The 4x100m Relay and the 100m Hurdles.

USC: What’s your best finish so far in the SECs?

RA: I finished second in the 60m hurdles in indoors and third outdoors.

USC: What do you do differently to prepare yourself for the SEC Championship?

RA: My main focus is to worry about my own race and not anyone else’s. There are a lot of good girls out there so you have to try to keep your composure.

USC: What’s your favorite thing about going to the SEC Championship?

RA: A lot of people doubt South Carolina in the big meets like the Penn Relays, the SECs, Nationals, and so that’s when we really come together and really do it big. We shock a lot of people. That’s the main focus — to prove people wrong.

USC: With the reputation that USC has with good women sprinters, how does it feel to come here, compete and do well amongst such tough competition?

RA: I always wanted to go to school at the best of the best. Coming here, there’s a lot of competition. When you come to the track, there’s nothing new. I like it here. There’s a lot of unity. We’re not split. We’re a combined men’s and women’s team. It’s not like other schools. I really like it.

USC: Being from Buffalo, New York, what brought you so far away from home to USC?

RA: The reputation of the track program. Also, the pharmacy program. A lot of schools didn’t have that major and I really wanted to do it.

USC: How is it balancing the academic side of college with the athletic and being able to do well in both?

RA: It’s a big thing here. It’s not just about track. Academics are also very important, and they stress that here. My goal is to stay on top and prove to everybody that we can do both. School is really important to me.

USC: What goals do you have for this weekend?

RA: I just want to improve a lot and stay on top of the game. Show everyone that I’m still here and still a threat. My main goal is to score points to help out our team.