University Southern California Trojans
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/ Track & Field
Getting To Know JC Stevenson
March 21, 2023 | Track & Field
Freshman JC Stevenson is in his first season as a jumper on the USC track and field team. He already has left his mark on the program with the school freshman indoor record long jump of 25-3.25 (7.70m) and he is just getting started. We had a chance to catch up with him prior to the start of the outdoor season.
Q: How did you first get into track?
JC: I'm the second-youngest of nine siblings and they all did track except my younger sister. So, they really got me into it.
Q: At what age did you start?
JC: I first started competing my freshman year of high school, but I was training through middle school with my brothers and my dad. My siblings were jumpers too, so I kind of just went into that as well. I also did sprints on the side, but jumping has always been my main event.
Q: Did you ever think about playing any other sports?
JC: In high school I did play basketball and I wanted to play football, but my mom thought I was going to get hurt so she wouldn't let me.
Q: If you didn't do track would you have gone the basketball route?
JC: If I could choose, I would probably choose football, because it's something I've always wanted to do. I'd probably want to play receiver.
Q: Have you always wanted to compete at the collegiate level?
JC: Yeah, well I watched my brothers and sisters compete in college. My brother and sister both went to Texas A&M, so I went to their track meets and always thought it would be cool to do one day.
Q: How many of your other siblings competed in college?
JC: My older sister did, she already graduated, another sister did, but also graduated, and I have another sister that's competing at a four-year, and my brother competed at Texas A&M, but he's not competing anymore.
Q: Who would you say your biggest supporter is?
JC: It has to be my dad. He's always supported me and that's the reason I'm here, so big thanks to him. I've never wanted to stop because of him. I just want to make him proud and go pro one day or something along those lines.
Q: Did you want to stay in California for college?
JC: USC was my first choice and I did want to stay close to home, and didn't want to go too far like my brothers and sisters did.
Q: What are some of the reasons that made you choose USC?
JC: Obviously great coaches, great teammates. I love the energy that's here, the coaches are very supportive and they know what they're talking about because they've been there before. They were all Olympic medalists, so I feel like it was the perfect choice.
Q: What do you like to do outside of track?
JC: Honestly, I just hang out with my teammates a lot. They all come over to our apartment or we go to theirs and we just chill.
Q: Have you picked up any new hobbies since being here?
JC: My teammates really got me into fashion recently, so I've been wanting to try out more stores and get my drip up.
Q: Before a meet what are your top 3 songs that you have to listen to?
JC: On meet day I'd choose "Keep Going" by Lil Durk, 21 Savage, and Roddy Ricch. Another song would be Steppers by the CMG Label, and then I'd say Vette Motors by NBA Youngboy.
Q: Favorite artist?
JC: Drake easily.
Q: Have you traveled outside the country? If so, what place has been your favorite and where do you want to travel to next?
JC: No I haven't, but in the U.S. my favorite place has been New York because I love the city. I also like Hawaii because of how nice it was…the beaches and weather and everything was just so nice.
Q: If you were to travel outside the country, where would you go first?
JC: I'd want to go to Jamaica because my cousin went there and he said it was really nice. He showed me some videos and it definitely looks like somewhere I'd want to spend time.
Q: What goals do you hope to achieve by the end of this season? By the end of your time here at USC?
JC: By the end of the season, I want to score points at nationals. That's my biggest goal for right now. And then by the time I graduate, I want to become a professional and become a Nike Athlete.
Q: How did you first get into track?
JC: I'm the second-youngest of nine siblings and they all did track except my younger sister. So, they really got me into it.
Q: At what age did you start?
JC: I first started competing my freshman year of high school, but I was training through middle school with my brothers and my dad. My siblings were jumpers too, so I kind of just went into that as well. I also did sprints on the side, but jumping has always been my main event.
Q: Did you ever think about playing any other sports?
JC: In high school I did play basketball and I wanted to play football, but my mom thought I was going to get hurt so she wouldn't let me.
Q: If you didn't do track would you have gone the basketball route?
JC: If I could choose, I would probably choose football, because it's something I've always wanted to do. I'd probably want to play receiver.
Q: Have you always wanted to compete at the collegiate level?
JC: Yeah, well I watched my brothers and sisters compete in college. My brother and sister both went to Texas A&M, so I went to their track meets and always thought it would be cool to do one day.
Q: How many of your other siblings competed in college?
JC: My older sister did, she already graduated, another sister did, but also graduated, and I have another sister that's competing at a four-year, and my brother competed at Texas A&M, but he's not competing anymore.
Q: Who would you say your biggest supporter is?
JC: It has to be my dad. He's always supported me and that's the reason I'm here, so big thanks to him. I've never wanted to stop because of him. I just want to make him proud and go pro one day or something along those lines.
Q: Did you want to stay in California for college?
JC: USC was my first choice and I did want to stay close to home, and didn't want to go too far like my brothers and sisters did.
Q: What are some of the reasons that made you choose USC?
JC: Obviously great coaches, great teammates. I love the energy that's here, the coaches are very supportive and they know what they're talking about because they've been there before. They were all Olympic medalists, so I feel like it was the perfect choice.
Q: What do you like to do outside of track?
JC: Honestly, I just hang out with my teammates a lot. They all come over to our apartment or we go to theirs and we just chill.
Q: Have you picked up any new hobbies since being here?
JC: My teammates really got me into fashion recently, so I've been wanting to try out more stores and get my drip up.
Q: Before a meet what are your top 3 songs that you have to listen to?
JC: On meet day I'd choose "Keep Going" by Lil Durk, 21 Savage, and Roddy Ricch. Another song would be Steppers by the CMG Label, and then I'd say Vette Motors by NBA Youngboy.
Q: Favorite artist?
JC: Drake easily.
Q: Have you traveled outside the country? If so, what place has been your favorite and where do you want to travel to next?
JC: No I haven't, but in the U.S. my favorite place has been New York because I love the city. I also like Hawaii because of how nice it was…the beaches and weather and everything was just so nice.
Q: If you were to travel outside the country, where would you go first?
JC: I'd want to go to Jamaica because my cousin went there and he said it was really nice. He showed me some videos and it definitely looks like somewhere I'd want to spend time.
Q: What goals do you hope to achieve by the end of this season? By the end of your time here at USC?
JC: By the end of the season, I want to score points at nationals. That's my biggest goal for right now. And then by the time I graduate, I want to become a professional and become a Nike Athlete.
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