The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Longhorn of the Year nominee: Alexandria Anderson
04.20.2010 | Track & Field / Cross Country w, Track & Field / Cross Country
April 20, 2010
Andy Ortegon, Texas Media Relations
During her time at The University of Texas, Alexandria Anderson did more than just make a name for herself among the track and field elite. She created a legacy of success, rooted in hard work and determination.
"My time here has kind of been like being in a trench," Anderson says. "To rise and accomplish all that I wanted for myself and my team, I had to work hard. I'm very blessed to say now, that I reached the top of the hill, and I'm proud to be where I am today."
Seven months into Anderson's freshman year she found herself already part of the 2006 NCAA Indoor Championship team and earned a national title by running a leg of the Longhorns' 4x100-meter relay team.
Anderson finished her college career in 2009 with 20 All-America Honors, the second-most in UT history. In her senior year alone, she won an NCAA Outdoor title in the 100 meter dash, and also earned a championship in the mile relay.
"A lot of our sound sprinters left after my freshman year either to graduation or the professional ranks so it was almost like I had to step up," she says. "I don't think I was prepared for that. I was physically prepared but not mentally and track is a really mental sport."
But mentally, Anderson rose to the challenge and through her perseverance became the first female athlete to place in both the 100m and 200m finals for three straight years at the NCAA Outdoor Championships since Muna Lee of LSU did so in 2004.
"It's just drive," Anderson says. "The mental aspects of trying to fill in the shoes of the runners before me hindered me a little, but it also helped me because it made me appreciate everything that I have now. You have to keep on going and keep on fighting and digging in. The learning experience helped me in the long run."
In 2009, Anderson recorded four of UT's top six all-time best performances in the 100, including the second-best time in school history (11.02). She also managed to finish no lower than third in any 100 or 200 event during her final year.
In addition to her personal successes, Anderson's leadership was one of the many attributes that contributed to her success. She was both a vocal and exemplary leader on and off the track.
"I'm glad that I can be a leader, but I think a large part of that came from growing up as a woman," she says. "I realized that I couldn't stay young minded forever, and for my team, I took my responsibility more seriously. That resulted in success for both them and myself."
Success also translated into a degree in Communication off the track, and professional career running for Nike on the track.
"My time at Texas just taught me to believe in myself," Anderson says. "The reason things went so right then and are going so well right now is that I believe in myself. I believe that if I keep fighting and never give up, that hard work will translate into great things."
