Q&A with Alexis Roberson

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Senior thrower Alexis Roberson has been one of the most consistent Saluki track and field atheltes throughout the team's indoor season. Coming off of a first-place finish in the women's weight throw at the 2020 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, Roberson is now headed to Albuquerque, N.M. to take part in the NCAA Indoor T&F Championships on Saturday, March 14.

What does it mean to you to be a Saluki?

To me, being a Saluki pretty much means being a part of a family and supporting everybody. Not even just on the track and field team, but in all other sports as well.

Who do you look up to in the track and field community at Southern Illinois?

I definitely look up to my coach, J.C. Lambert, however cheesy that may be. He came to Southern Illinois not necessarily as a great thrower, but then really made something of himself with the program and with what he was given. I feel like I can personally relate to that.

With Coach Lambert being one of the more decorated throwers in Saluki T&F history, what does his guidance mean to you?

It means that pretty much whatever I need or ask of him, I know he'll be able to provide it to me. He's been through the exact program and has been in the same situations that I have been in. To have him there coaching me, it really means a lot. I know I'm always going to get the best advice and coaching skills that I can get.

What is the throwing group like? What's the overall dynamic of that group?

It really is just a big family. We support one another. Not even just in the ring or at practice, but we're always there for one another outside of practice. It's not even just on the women's side, but the men are right there supporting us. It really made coming to SIU an easy decision for me, knowing that I had all this support from all of the throwers. They've really made it feel like home here.

Did you have a "come to realization" moment where you kind of knew you'd have this type of success this year?

Last year, I was thinking I could crack the top-16. It didn't go exactly as I had planned, but I knew that this year had to be the year. During this past summer's training, I told myself that this had to be the year because it's my last year. There wasn't a choice. I told myself that I was going to make these Nationals if it were the last thing I'd do. Coming into SIU, I had no idea what the weight throw was. We don't do that in Missouri, so it was an interesting start and it felt pretty good. It showed me that you can really be something if you push your mind to it and work hard. That's exactly what I did this year. I put it all on the table and left nothing up for second guessing.

What's been the key to your success this season?

I'd definitely say that it's just determination, hard work and giving my 100% every single day. You go into practice and give it your all even if you're not feeling well, sore from lifting or whatever. It doesn't matter what it is, you put it aside and give your all that day. Listening to my coaches and doing whatever they said has gotten to me where I am right now.

Describe to me what that feeling was like to go into conference and come out an MVC Champion.

It was a long time coming. I was in the top-five of our conference each of the last few years. I told myself again that this year is my last year and that I want to be able to leave SIU with a legacy. I felt like leaving as a MVC Champion was the best way to do it.

What was the feeling like when you found out that you had qualified for the NCAA National Championship meet?

I was over the moon. I started off really strong and I'd like to say that I continued to perform strong throughout the rest of the season. After I won conference, it was a waiting game to find out whether I made it in or not. There were four more conferences that had yet to compete in the weight throw by that time. My teammate Kayleigh Conlon and I were watching the live results of all the conferences and just making sure that I didn't get bumped out of that 16^th place. Once all the results were in, it was almost unbelievable and I almost didn't believe that I had made it in. I was happy but ready to get back to work for two weeks before leaving. I leave tomorrow and I think I'm really well prepared for this meet.

Have you gotten any advice from former athletes as you've prepared for Nationals?

DeAnna Price and Sophia Lozano have both been contacting me. I see DeAnna at practice and Sophia has been reaching out to me to tell me that I can't give up and that I can do this. Since I'm in 16^th place, they both have said that I've really got nothing to lose, so go after it and give it my all.

What would it mean to you to end your senior indoor campaign with a strong showing this weekend?

To me, if I could be First Team All-American it would pretty much fulfill every goal I set for myself when I came to SIU. I believe that Coach Lambert would feel the same way about reaching what I was capable of before I came here. If I become an All-American, I have nobody to thank but myself and the program.

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