Los Angeles, CA – The USC Trojans Men’s and Women’s Track & Field executed a clean sweep against their rival UCLA Bruins in the annual Dual Meet on Sunday, May 1 at Cromwell Field & Loker Track Stadium.
USC Men’s won 86-76 and USC women prevailed 81-80.
The Trojan women are currently in an eight-year winning streak against the Bruins.
“It feels great,” said USC Director of Track and Field and Cross-Country Quincy Watts. “I’m very excited for the program in my first year. Our kids worked so hard, so I wouldn’t have it any other way than the way it happened. The Bruins bring the best out of us. I’m very excited for USC, the program and the dual meet itself.”
Initially, it was ruled that the meet was split between the Trojan men winning and the Bruin women winning. The final score for the Bruin women was 82-79 over the Trojans.
However, a mistake in scoring for a UCLA discus thrower was discovered almost half an hour after the meet had concluded.
The score was entered as 55 meters instead of 52 meters.
The final score was then corrected to the Trojan women reigning victorious once again over the Bruins with a score of 81-80.
Junior sprinter Jantaijah Ford came storming back with a remarkable finish on the anchor leg to win the 4×400 in the final event of the day.
The Trojans went berserk and crowded her with excitement.
“To see them compete that hard. To be down 15, 20 meters and for that young lady to dig down for her women’s team and the SC team I couldn’t be prouder,” said coach Watts.
Senior sprinter Davonte Burnett won both the 100-meter and the 200-meter dashes with a time of 10.07 seconds and 20.28 seconds respectively.
He stated what prepared them for their win against UCLA.
“Honestly a lot of speeches from Coach Watts. Just training honestly. The coaches just believe in us. We believe in ourselves. We just came out here and executed and everything came out very great.”
Burnett credits his coach, but it is his coach who credits his players.
“We have a board in there. I just keep them accountable for the words that come out of their mouths in terms of what inspires them. I would say if Davonte talks about motivational speeches, it is me inspiring them with their words,” said Coach Watts.
Olympian, USC track alum and current Volunteer Coach Rai Benjamin was in attendance for his team.
In 2021, USC also swept the USC-UCLA Dual Meet with the Trojan men winning 114-42 and the women finishing 93-70.
As far as what’s next, Burnett is looking forward to the Pac-12 Championships in a couple of weeks.
“I’m just getting ready for Pac-12 so hopefully I run even faster there. I’m looking forward to PR in every race, and just the competition. I’m very excited.”
Both teams are set to compete in the Pac-12 Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon on May 13-15.
