University Southern California Trojans
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/ Track & Field
Getting To Know Breanna Bernard-Joseph
November 06, 2018 | Track & Field, Features
Freshman hurdler Breanna Bernard-Joseph is looking forward to her first season on the USC Track & Field team, and hopes to contribute immediately. In 2018, she completed a standout body of work at Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Eastvale, CA) with a personal record 41.76 seconds in 300m hurdles that earned her a California state championship and proved to be eighth best high school time in the event nationwide. Now the 18 year-old has her sights set on helping the Trojans to both a second consecutive Pac-12 Championship and National Championship. She will be competing primarily in 400m hurdles for Troy.
Q: What went into your decision to attend and run for USC?
BB-J: The first reason was the coaching staff. They're amazing, and I've obviously seen all the things they've done with previous athletes that have been here, and how much effort they put into each athlete and just how they work with them in general. I also just knew that it was place for me to be honest. I got here and I felt like it was home and I could really fit in with the team and you know, I felt like it was just the right place for me.
Q: In your senior year of high school, you set a PR of 41.76 seconds in the 300m hurdles, which netted you a state championship and was good for eighth best time in the nation in that event. What was it like to achieve that after putting in years of hard work?
BB-J: It was really cool achieving it my senior year. I knew that I could go faster than 41 seconds, but being able to do that was still a blessing, so I was fine with it. It was cool being ranked number 8, I knew I could go higher, but it was still pretty dope.
Q: What are your personal and team goals for this season?
BB-J: My personal goals are to try to make it as far as possible and obviously try to make the NCAAs and see how far I can get there. I want to try to PR because now I'm doing a new event. I'm switching from 300m hurdles to 400m hurdles, so I'm really just trying to gain my confidence in that event and really just prove myself on the track. Team wise, my goal is for us to just try and win another conference title, and then an NCAA title – why not?
Q: How has the transition been from competing in high school to competing for a major Division I program?
BB-J: The transition's been pretty smooth honestly. I thought it was going to be harder. I thought it was going to be a little bit more nerve-racking. Obviously the first practice was really tough because I was kind of nervous about the team and everything, but I actually got a lot of friends, and I've really been able to click with them. They're all really cool, so that's been pretty easy. Workouts have been tough, but I'm getting used to it in time.
Q: Growing up in California was USC on your radar as a university you might one day want to attend and compete for?
BB-J: Of course growing up in California everybody is always talking about USC and everything, but I think at first I wanted to go out of state. I'd always heard about the Texas schools. I always thought USC was cool but I didn't really appreciate USC or UCLA because they've always been named around me. Then when I actually sat down and thought about it, I realized this was really the best opportunity for me. Being able to stay close to home and get a good education and have a good track team stood out to me as an unusual opportunity. I really think growing up in California contributed to my decision a lot.
Q: What are your plans after USC?
BB-J: From an athletic standpoint I'd love to continue running. Running hurdles is really fun to me, so I'd try to run for as long as I can and as long as I enjoy it. After that, I would want to become a sports broadcaster. Maybe try to work with ESPN or something like that – one of those big sports companies – and really just try to create a brand for myself.
Q: You called New Orleans Saints free safety Marcus Williams as your sports hero. What makes him especially inspirational to you?
BB-J: I went to Roosevelt High School, which is the same high school he went to. My mom is the track coach there, so she coached him in track. He's five years older than me, so I was in middle school when he ran for Roosevelt. I was always around him, and he was always good at football, but later he became really good when he went to Utah. Soon after that he was a 2nd round draft pick for the Saints, and it really just stuck out to me. He was always so nice to me, and told me to be confident in myself and never doubt myself. I was always pretty good in high school, especially after I broke out sophomore year. So he told me I could accomplish anything because he was nobody in high school and became an NFL football player and everyone knows me now. He helps me now to this day and he's just a really cool friend. He came to my signing party and he's just amazing.
Q: You listed Jhene Aiko, Beyoncé, and Ella Mai as your favorite musical artists. What is it about their music that resonates with you?
BB-J: I like Beyoncé because her music is like storytelling. She always has a story and lots of powerful messages behind her songs, and she can just sing. Ella Mai is pretty new and I actually really like her songs, I really vibe with her. I listen to Beyoncé and sometimes Ella Mai before I go out and run. I also love Jhene Aiko, I know all her songs. They calm me down and help me chill.
Q: What went into your decision to attend and run for USC?
BB-J: The first reason was the coaching staff. They're amazing, and I've obviously seen all the things they've done with previous athletes that have been here, and how much effort they put into each athlete and just how they work with them in general. I also just knew that it was place for me to be honest. I got here and I felt like it was home and I could really fit in with the team and you know, I felt like it was just the right place for me.
Q: In your senior year of high school, you set a PR of 41.76 seconds in the 300m hurdles, which netted you a state championship and was good for eighth best time in the nation in that event. What was it like to achieve that after putting in years of hard work?
BB-J: It was really cool achieving it my senior year. I knew that I could go faster than 41 seconds, but being able to do that was still a blessing, so I was fine with it. It was cool being ranked number 8, I knew I could go higher, but it was still pretty dope.
Q: What are your personal and team goals for this season?
BB-J: My personal goals are to try to make it as far as possible and obviously try to make the NCAAs and see how far I can get there. I want to try to PR because now I'm doing a new event. I'm switching from 300m hurdles to 400m hurdles, so I'm really just trying to gain my confidence in that event and really just prove myself on the track. Team wise, my goal is for us to just try and win another conference title, and then an NCAA title – why not?
Q: How has the transition been from competing in high school to competing for a major Division I program?
BB-J: The transition's been pretty smooth honestly. I thought it was going to be harder. I thought it was going to be a little bit more nerve-racking. Obviously the first practice was really tough because I was kind of nervous about the team and everything, but I actually got a lot of friends, and I've really been able to click with them. They're all really cool, so that's been pretty easy. Workouts have been tough, but I'm getting used to it in time.
Q: Growing up in California was USC on your radar as a university you might one day want to attend and compete for?
BB-J: Of course growing up in California everybody is always talking about USC and everything, but I think at first I wanted to go out of state. I'd always heard about the Texas schools. I always thought USC was cool but I didn't really appreciate USC or UCLA because they've always been named around me. Then when I actually sat down and thought about it, I realized this was really the best opportunity for me. Being able to stay close to home and get a good education and have a good track team stood out to me as an unusual opportunity. I really think growing up in California contributed to my decision a lot.
Q: What are your plans after USC?
BB-J: From an athletic standpoint I'd love to continue running. Running hurdles is really fun to me, so I'd try to run for as long as I can and as long as I enjoy it. After that, I would want to become a sports broadcaster. Maybe try to work with ESPN or something like that – one of those big sports companies – and really just try to create a brand for myself.
Q: You called New Orleans Saints free safety Marcus Williams as your sports hero. What makes him especially inspirational to you?
BB-J: I went to Roosevelt High School, which is the same high school he went to. My mom is the track coach there, so she coached him in track. He's five years older than me, so I was in middle school when he ran for Roosevelt. I was always around him, and he was always good at football, but later he became really good when he went to Utah. Soon after that he was a 2nd round draft pick for the Saints, and it really just stuck out to me. He was always so nice to me, and told me to be confident in myself and never doubt myself. I was always pretty good in high school, especially after I broke out sophomore year. So he told me I could accomplish anything because he was nobody in high school and became an NFL football player and everyone knows me now. He helps me now to this day and he's just a really cool friend. He came to my signing party and he's just amazing.
Q: You listed Jhene Aiko, Beyoncé, and Ella Mai as your favorite musical artists. What is it about their music that resonates with you?
BB-J: I like Beyoncé because her music is like storytelling. She always has a story and lots of powerful messages behind her songs, and she can just sing. Ella Mai is pretty new and I actually really like her songs, I really vibe with her. I listen to Beyoncé and sometimes Ella Mai before I go out and run. I also love Jhene Aiko, I know all her songs. They calm me down and help me chill.
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