University Southern California Trojans
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/ Track & Field
Getting To Know Margaux Jones
October 12, 2017 | Track & Field, Features
USC track and field junior Margaux Jones holds the USC record in the women's long jump with a jump of 21-0.50/6.41m. As a freshman, Jones earned her first All-America honor after finishing eighth at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship. Last year, she won the Trojan Invitational with a jump of 19-11.50/6.08m. She also finished first in the USC-UCLA Dual Meet with a jump of 20-8.00/6.31m. She placed second at the Pac-12 Championships, jumping over 20 feet with a jump of 20-0.50/6.11. Read below for a Q and A to get to know more about the USC record-holder:
Q: Being an upperclassman, what has been your favorite part about being at USC?
MG: I think it's nice because the course load is a little bit lighter. Your first two years especially as a freshman and sophomore, you take a lot of GE's. Especially for my major [Art History with a minor in Natural sciences, pre-med] a lot of the more difficult classes were when I was a freshman and sophomore so I think being an upperclassman is nice. Classes are easier and you're in the swing of things, so not everything is quite as difficult dealing with track and school at the same time.
Q: More specifically, what has been the best part about being on the USC Track & Field team?
MG: The feeling of family. There are a lot of teams that are just teams on the track or they just train together and there is nothing more behind that. But with our team, I feel that everyone has a very close connection. When we do stuff outside of track and school, we do it together. Just that feeling of knowing that everyone on this team, if I ever were struggling with anything personally, would have my back, including the coaches.
Q: What made you interested in attending USC and participating on the Track & Field team?
MG: liked how it had the perfect balance of academics and athletics, so I felt as though I was getting the best of both worlds.
Q: What has been the toughest part about being a student-athlete, and how do you balance that in your life?
MG: The toughest part about being a student-athlete is time management. We have so much less time in our day to be on top of our school work, so at times it can get overwhelming. The way I try to manage it is planning. I use my agenda every day and I allocate time for my work and try to be ahead and on top of everything.
Q: What about the USC Track & Field team, or USC in general, has allowed you to succeed athletically?
MG: The team atmosphere has helped me so much being here. Everyone on the team wants to improve and be great, so being around that everyday pushes you to be better. We support each other through our ups and down and are always there for each other. It really feels like a family.
Q: This year, what are your goals for yourself, and for the team?
MG: My goals for this year are to score as high as possible at Nationals and to contribute as many points as I can for our team. Our team wants to win a national championship.
Q: Why did you choose long jump?
MG: I've been running track since I was eight and long jump has always been my event. It's stuck with me for all these years.
Q: How does training for long jump differ to other sports?
MG: Long jump is very technical but also requires a lot of power. You have to know how to generate power in your run, yet also be able to convert this into your jump and execute your jump in the air.
Q: Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
MG: My parents are my biggest inspiration. They faced a lot of hardship in their lives but they pushed through it and have become successful. They taught me that I can do anything if I want it enough and work through it.
Q: What are your aspirations for after graduation?
MG: After graduation, I would like to continue my athletic career if possible. After that, I plan on taking a gap year to do some public health work and then apply to medical school.
Q: What have you learned from being a student-athlete and how do you think it will help you after your sport?
MG: I think just perseverance and overcoming adversity. Nobody who was great didn't go through a period in their life that was difficult for them. Just knowing that it's hard now, and I'm going to face adversity but when I overcome that there is going to be something worth it at the end of the road. Just knowing that has really helped me.
Q: If you were talking to a track and field recruit, what separates USC from other schools?
MG: I think the idea of the Trojan family not only with the school itself, but also with the track team. Here you really feel like people acknowledge you. You don't feel like one person in the crowd. You feel like your coaches, teachers and advisors really care about your well-being both with your success at USC as well as your success after USC which is invaluable.
The future is bright for this USC junior. Jones and the rest of the USC Track and Field team opens the 2018 season at New Mexico for the Cherry and Silver Invitational on January 19.
Q: Being an upperclassman, what has been your favorite part about being at USC?
MG: I think it's nice because the course load is a little bit lighter. Your first two years especially as a freshman and sophomore, you take a lot of GE's. Especially for my major [Art History with a minor in Natural sciences, pre-med] a lot of the more difficult classes were when I was a freshman and sophomore so I think being an upperclassman is nice. Classes are easier and you're in the swing of things, so not everything is quite as difficult dealing with track and school at the same time.
Q: More specifically, what has been the best part about being on the USC Track & Field team?
MG: The feeling of family. There are a lot of teams that are just teams on the track or they just train together and there is nothing more behind that. But with our team, I feel that everyone has a very close connection. When we do stuff outside of track and school, we do it together. Just that feeling of knowing that everyone on this team, if I ever were struggling with anything personally, would have my back, including the coaches.
Q: What made you interested in attending USC and participating on the Track & Field team?
MG: liked how it had the perfect balance of academics and athletics, so I felt as though I was getting the best of both worlds.
Q: What has been the toughest part about being a student-athlete, and how do you balance that in your life?
MG: The toughest part about being a student-athlete is time management. We have so much less time in our day to be on top of our school work, so at times it can get overwhelming. The way I try to manage it is planning. I use my agenda every day and I allocate time for my work and try to be ahead and on top of everything.
Q: What about the USC Track & Field team, or USC in general, has allowed you to succeed athletically?
MG: The team atmosphere has helped me so much being here. Everyone on the team wants to improve and be great, so being around that everyday pushes you to be better. We support each other through our ups and down and are always there for each other. It really feels like a family.
Q: This year, what are your goals for yourself, and for the team?
MG: My goals for this year are to score as high as possible at Nationals and to contribute as many points as I can for our team. Our team wants to win a national championship.
Q: Why did you choose long jump?
MG: I've been running track since I was eight and long jump has always been my event. It's stuck with me for all these years.
Q: How does training for long jump differ to other sports?
MG: Long jump is very technical but also requires a lot of power. You have to know how to generate power in your run, yet also be able to convert this into your jump and execute your jump in the air.
Q: Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
MG: My parents are my biggest inspiration. They faced a lot of hardship in their lives but they pushed through it and have become successful. They taught me that I can do anything if I want it enough and work through it.
Q: What are your aspirations for after graduation?
MG: After graduation, I would like to continue my athletic career if possible. After that, I plan on taking a gap year to do some public health work and then apply to medical school.
Q: What have you learned from being a student-athlete and how do you think it will help you after your sport?
MG: I think just perseverance and overcoming adversity. Nobody who was great didn't go through a period in their life that was difficult for them. Just knowing that it's hard now, and I'm going to face adversity but when I overcome that there is going to be something worth it at the end of the road. Just knowing that has really helped me.
Q: If you were talking to a track and field recruit, what separates USC from other schools?
MG: I think the idea of the Trojan family not only with the school itself, but also with the track team. Here you really feel like people acknowledge you. You don't feel like one person in the crowd. You feel like your coaches, teachers and advisors really care about your well-being both with your success at USC as well as your success after USC which is invaluable.
The future is bright for this USC junior. Jones and the rest of the USC Track and Field team opens the 2018 season at New Mexico for the Cherry and Silver Invitational on January 19.
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