Track & Field | October 16, 2018

Freshman Ayden Owens is in his first season of competing in the multi-events and hurdles for USC.  He is a four-time New Balance All-American and competed in the 2018 IAAF World Junior Championships, setting the meet's decathlon 110m hurdles record.

Q - What inspired you to choose USC?
 
AO - I think a variety of factors. First, location. I'm from Pennsylvania, so coming out here to the West and having great weather is a major thing. I think academically speaking, USC is one of the most prestigious schools that I looked at- I wanted a good mix of academics and athletics and I felt that USC really fit the criteria. Athletically speaking, the program speaks for itself. It has a history of track and field excellence, and I wanted to be a part of something that was as reputable as USC track and field.
 
 
Q - How do you like it here so far?
 
AO - I'm absolutely loving my time. The weather's great, the team's awesome, I'm really getting acclimated, and I'm adjusting really well to collegiate life. So far, that's easy.
 
 
Q - What have you found is the biggest difference between high school and college?
 
AO - I think the biggest difference for me between high school and college is, I guess, the amount of weight that a test or a midterm has. Also, the change in training between high school and college. It's a lot more serious now, a lot more heavy.
 
 
Q - You mentioned adjusting to West Coast weather. What do you consider the biggest difference between living in Pennsylvania and Los Angeles?
 
AO - Well, yeah, Pittsburgh has some of the worst weather in the country, in terms of rainy days and cloudy days, so coming here to LA is really different. I came out here so I could hit my optimal performance, I guess, being able to train in great weather. I absolutely...don't even want to go back to Pittsburgh (laughs), I'm happy to be here.
 
 
Q - What are your athletic goals for this year and your long term goals as an athlete?
 
AO - For this year, I'd like to take it beat by beat but ultimately I want to make Nationals and win Nationals, go through Pac 12, win Pac 12, and help the team win a championship…and an individual championship in the decathlon. Long term, well, it's not very long term right now, but 2019 World Championships and 2020 Tokyo Olympics are coming up. Just to be an Olympian, and go professional and chase world records.
 
 
Q - You are a biomedical engineering major. Is this a field you plan on going into after graduation?
 
AO - Yeah, definitely. It's not exactly easy to balance with track, but I think it's a challenge that I'm up to. I feel as though BME is meant for me. I'm a math and science guy, I feel like that career is really high in demand right now and I just wanted to be a part of something that was really helping people's lives, and that was in the medical and the engineering field.
 
 
Q - What is your proudest achievement from running track in high school?
 
AO - I think my proudest achievement was probably making the World team and running at World's, and the two national championships I won in the decathlon and 60m hurdles.
 
 
Q - Do you have a favorite memory in general from running in high school?
 
AO - My favorite high school memory is probably Finland World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland. I think that was a great experience representing Puerto Rico, and going out there and just being in another part of the world, competing against the rest of the world, it was a great time.
 
 
Q - What are you most looking forward to this season?
 
AO - I'm most looking forward to being able to train and compete with the next level of athletes- you see some of the highest level of athletes come from here. I'm looking forward to working with Coach Caryl, all of the coaching staff, Coach Carjay. And just to train and compete at a collegiate level.