Cross Country/Track Q&A: Jackson Felkins

Jackson Felkins burst on the scene as a freshman for Pepperdine cross country and track in 2018-19, setting a then-school record of 30:51.48 in the 10,000 meters and also setting top-five times in other events. However, a combination of injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic has held Felkins to just four cross country meets and three track meets in the two years since. As a three-time Pepperdine Scholar Athlete and member of the WCC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Felkins has excelled in the classroom and is excited to have a great year running in 2021-22.

We caught up with Felkins to discuss returning to competition, pacing for his teammates and the future of the Waves program under new head coach Lauren Floris:

Q: You're heading into your senior season. When you came on campus as a freshman you set a school record, so how do you feel you've progressed since then?

A: I definitely thought I would have gotten to do more racing by now than I have. But I think that's just made me even more excited for this year. I was hurt for track season (last year), so it was very bittersweet because it was super exciting to see my teammates get back out there and everyone race after so long, but it was also very painful.

Q: As far as preparing for next year, and thinking that we'll have a full normal season, what are you most excited about?

A: Well, we have a new coach this year, Lauren Floris. Since she just got hired at the end of track season, we still haven't had official practices with her, but I really like her and I think her training looks good. In the summer you don't really get to tell how good of shape you're in, you just kind of run for two months and hope something's changing. And then in the fall, we'll get a little fitness test.

Q: You have a great relationship with fellow runners Kyle McCabe and Karl Winter. You guys are great friends off the track, but you also help pace each other for your different events. Can you talk about that process and what the benefits of that are?

A: I'm excited about being in a race this season with Kyle and Karl, because we've been the "Three Amigos," kind of the core of the team, for the time we've been here. We've all had different injuries and ups and downs, but it looks like we're all going into senior year healthy and fast. But basically in racing, especially long track races where you're doing a ton of laps, it can be very taxing to try and fight the other racers the whole time, and the mental strain of trying to hit a specific split every lap can really take its toll over the course of a race. So if you have a teammate -- let's just say you're trying to run [70-second laps], I'm going to run eight 70s, you don't have to worry about a thing for the first eight laps, just run right behind me. It makes it easier so you don't have to deal with the struggle of the whole mental game until the last mile or so. It's really fun to pace your teammates, and it's really nice when they pace you, so yeah, it's a good time.

Q: I think every sports team has a camaraderie and bond with your teammates, but the track program has a really special connection. Can you talk a bit about what it's like to be a part of that Pepperdine team and culture, and all the people who are your teammates but also friends as well?

A: Yeah, man. It's the best. Honestly, I think one of the best parts at the very start of college is you get to school two weeks early and you get to move in before all the other freshmen get there. By the time everyone else gets there and they're moving in and trying to make friends, we already have a default group of friends to fit in with, and it makes the transition into college really easy. Kyle and Karl and I have lived together all four years. Nate Lannen is from my high school, Jonathan Flint we raced against for two years of high school, so I've known some of these guys even before college. So, when I have to go run at home in Texas, I have friends on my team there. I can run here with friends on my team here. I cannot do it alone, so it's nice to have a really strong support system.

Q: You already mentioned the new coach. I know you haven't done anything official yet, but what are your first impressions of the style or culture she's trying to bring to the team?

A: I think she's going to be really good about working with and caring about every athlete individually. We have 12 guys on our team, and everyone's different, so ideally the coach will be able to work with everyone to see what training works specifically for them, and I think Lauren's going to be really good about that. The summer workouts we've been doing I think have been really good. Everyone seems to be running well, but not beating themselves into the ground. I'm definitely very optimistic.

Q: Cross Country and track set multiple school records on the men's and women's side last year, including Karl Winter being the first Pepperdine runner to make the NCAA West Prelims. How good do you feel about the state of the Pepperdine program moving forward, and what kind of noise do you think you guys can make next year?

A: Pretty much every year since I got here, we've been the best that Pepperdine's ever been, I think, and I don't expect that to change at all. I think we're going to have a really good team this year. With me, Kyle and Karl, I think there's going to be a really strong front of the pack group, and then we have a lot of young, talented guys who haven't had a chance to race. So we're really excited to see what a lot of them can do.

Q: Do you have a place on the schedule you're excited to travel to this season?

A: Good question. We're going to a lot of places we've never run before, which is exciting. We're going to a race in Minnesota. I've never been to Minnesota or raced anywhere like that. But there's going to be a lot of good teams there that we wouldn't normally get to race. Also, regionals this year is going to be one of the biggest meets for the team and me individually. It's a course we've run lots of times, it's where I ran regionals freshman year. It's basically in Karl's hometown, so his family's always out there, and it's a course I love.

Q: What are you up to this summer? How are you spending your time?

A: I'm honestly busier this summer than I usually am during the school year. I kind of overpacked myself. We have training in the morning, and then one of our friends at Calamigos Ranch opened up a coffee shop, so I've been working as a barista there. I'm taking the MCAT [Medical College Admission Test] at the start of August, so pretty much all my free time has gone to studying that. And then I'm also doing some research for one of my philosophy professors, Dr. Pendergraft. So, a lot of really fun and exciting things, but also just a lot of things.

Players Mentioned

Jackson Felkins

Kyle McCabe

Karl Winter

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