USC track & field finished Sunday's dual meet in dramatic fashion sweeping its crosstown rival UCLA in the last leg of the final event for the first time since 2010.
Junior sprinter Andre De Grasse dominated for the men winning the 100m dash with a PR and stadium-record wind-aided time of 10.04. He also helped clinch the Dual Meet sweep for the Trojans, running a leg of the 4x400m relay, which gave USC the winning margin. The men entered the final event down 81-77, but De Grasse, along with freshman Ricky Morgan, junior Just'N Thymes and senior Davonte Stewart, ran a 3:09.82 4x400 to lead the Trojans to an 82-81 victory, which is just the fourth time in series history that the difference has been a single point.
The Women of Troy came back to defeat the Bruins 93-70 after falling to an early deficit. UCLA jumped out to a quick 39-6 lead after the first five events, but the women, led by senior Vanessa Jones, would outscore the Bruins 87-31 over the final 15 events. Senior Kira Soderstrom began the Women of Troy's comeback by winning the steeplechase with a time of 10:37.54 before Jones won the 400m to really get the women back in the competition. Junior Alexis Faulknor also aided the women's turnaround with a season-best long jump of 20-5.75/6.24m. She also set a personal record of 11.30 to win the 100m dash placing her at 10th all-time for the Women of Troy.
For the men, the Bruins won the first 18 points of the day before two-sport freshman phenom Adoree' Jackson won the men's long jump with a wind-aided jump of 25-2.00/7.67m. The Trojans then leaped back into contention with freshman Marquis Morris and senior D.J. Morgan taking first and second place in the 110m hurdles. Senior Davonte Stewart then set a personal record of 46.51 to win his second consecutive Dual Meet 400m. The Trojans kept fighting their way back all the way until the final event when De Grasse and company finished the annual Dual Meet in epic fashion.
USC track & field will ride this momentum from a dramatic rivalry victory into the Pac-12 Championships, which begin on May 9 at UCLA.
