Track & Field | October 25, 2023
The first edition of the “2023-24 Getting To Know” series introducing the newcomers of the USC Track & Field program highlights freshman Marjourie Lopez. She is a graduate of Shadow Hills High in Indio, Calif. and won the CIF-Southern Section Division II 3200m title as a senior. This first-generation student-athlete invites us to learn more about her personal and athletic journey alongside her newfound excitement with the L.A. area.
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Q: What events do you do and what other events might you do now that you’re here at USC?
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ML: My favorite was the 3200m in high school, but now my coach wants me to try the steeplechase, the 5k and hopefully 10k.Â
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Q: Have you ever done the steeplechase?Â
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ML: No, never. My high school coach never thought I could do hurdles.
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Q: Are you a little nervous?
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ML: I think it’ll be fun, actually
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Q: Have you ever wanted to try it before?
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ML: Yeah, I have wanted to try it just because I love the event. Hopefully it’ll be a fun experience.
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Q: What do you do like to get yourself pumped up?
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ML: I love to listen to music. Guitar music is my favorite. I listen to a lot of reggaeton and Bad Bunny… and hip hop, like Drake or Travis Scott.
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Q: What inspired you to get into track? Was it the only sport you did growing up?
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ML: Growing up I enjoyed soccer because my Grandpa loves playing it. I always tried new things like volleyball, so volleyball and soccer before. My friends convinced me to join track just because I wanted to do an extracurricular activity after school. My friends were all doing track and field, so I was like, why not try my freshman year… but COVID happened, so I didn’t start actually running until junior year.
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Q: You started running late technically for someone who wants to run D-I. Have you always thought about running in college or was it just that you realized that you are good at it?
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ML: It was my senior year when I realized I was kind of good at it. That’s when colleges started to reach out. I was shocked. My junior year I thought that I could get into a D-III school at most. I loved running. It was like my passion, but I didn’t think I was good enough. Then Coach [Jebreh] Harris started reaching out to me and I was like, “Oh, I would love to go to USC.” I’m actually first generation. I…
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