Alexa Ortega, a sprinter out of Chatsworth, California, who just completed her junior year, has had a great career at Pepperdine so far. She ran the team's second-fastest time twice during her time at Pepperdine, once during her freshman year in the 200 meters, running a 27.26 at UC San Diego, and another during her sophomore year in the 100 meters, running a 13.69 at Santa Barbara, before her season was cut short due to the pandemic. The sports administration major has overcome numerous obstacles this past season, including a broken nose.
 
We caught up with Alexa to discuss her experiences competing during the pandemic, as well as her hopes for the future:
 
Q: What was competing during the pandemic like for you?
 
A: It was definitely interesting and unlike any other year. Obviously when we traveled to meets there were a ton of rules that didn't exist before that kind of changed the way we did everything. It was also kind of stressful because there was the constant stress factor of not wanting to be the person to catch COVID and bring it back to the team.
 
Q: How did your team come together during the pandemic?
 
A: Our team went through a lot this year, including a coaching change in the middle of the season along with the pandemic. I felt like everyone really leaned on each other a little bit more and just made sure to be checking in with each other mental health-wise, knowing that we were all kind of facing a lot.
 
Q: I know you were out for a bit with a broken nose, how was that experience?
 
A: It was honestly really tough for me, because coming back my body and overall fitness levels were not at the same place as they were pre-COVID and pre-injury. I started to feel myself coming back at the end of the season actually, so it was just something that I had to learn how to navigate as I went along.
 
Q: With your senior year coming up, what are some goals you have for this upcoming season?
 
A: I want to get back into my original event that I started college with, the 400-meter hurdles, and I want to PR in that. After being strictly a sprinter for most of college, I actually feel that the event I got recruited with is still my best event so I'm really excited to go back to that and hopefully make an impact.
 
Q: Recently you started interning for West Coast Elite Basketball, how has that been going for you?
 
A: I've been working as a social media content creator and sports reporter for West Coast Elite and it's been so fun. I'm really getting the opportunity to kind of work in a few different angles of sports, and it's especially cool being an athlete because I get to do what's usually done for me.
 
Q: Do you plan on using your COVID year, or have you not given any thought to staying a fifth year?
 
A: I definitely want to use my COVID year to continue to go at my original event and keep growing in my sport. It's a good opportunity to get a grad degree as well.
 
Q: You placed top 15 in the 200 meters at the Azusa Pacific meet. What have you been doing to work on placing high at meets?
 
A: Azusa Pacific was actually kind of tough for me because that was peak nose and foot injury for me. I wasn't really proud of that performance, but I stayed in the mix despite my injuries by just keeping myself accountable with workouts and fueling correctly even during lockdown or when facing adversity.
 
Q: Are you looking forward to Lauren Floris coming in and taking over the track program?
 
A: Although she's going to be working more on the distance side, I'm super excited to see what she does with the program because she seems very knowledgeable in the sport and has great experience.