It’s no secret that Washingtonville has been home to many successful student athletes through the years, but it’s a rarity to see both peak athleticism paired with brilliance. If the term “student athlete” had a picture next to it, the face of the photo would be Alexis Jones.
Alexis, a senior at Washingtonville, started running in varsity cross-country in her sophomore year of high school at the bottom of her team. However, through diligence and tireless persistence to surpass her competitors, by the last meet of the cross-country season, Jones became the second best runner on her team.
Determined to further cement her place, Alexis decided to compete during track season that year as well. Her hard work paid off as she qualified for the New York State Championships in outdoor track. Since then, Jones has not ceased in pushing herself towards greatness, as year after year, she has qualified for state championships in both cross country and indoor track. In addition to that, she set the sophomore and junior class record in the 800, as well as the school record in the 1000 meter at indoor track. At Washingtonville High School, the definition of success is definitely Alexis.
Jones is equally as passionate about running as she is in her academic career. She explains, “I used to have nights where I would stay up a lot and would get less sleep because I had the assignments to do after practice.” She then went on to add, “I’ve been able to manage it well and my GPA is well above a 100, so, I mean, it’s not that impossible.”
It’s evident that Alexis prioritizes well-roundedness, which has made her a dynamic individual and one that draws the attention of renowned colleges as well. In October of this year, Jones committed to her dream school, Howard University, and in fall of 2025, will run for their D1 track team. Alexis remarked, “I wanted to go to Howard…it’s been my number one choice since last year…when I was younger, I didn’t think I would ever get to college for running, but it became a possibility at the end of junior year.”
Jones’ diligence inside and outside of school is truly commendable, and she has no doubt that these qualities will flourish even more throughout her years in college. Over the summer, she worked alongside a personal trainer to reach her fitness goals several days a week, as well as running religiously every morning before clocking in to work as a lifeguard from 11-3 p.m.
One of Alexis’ key motivators is American Olympian Sydney Mclaughlin. Alexis revealed that her dedication to her sport is as a result of trying to emulate Sydney as she “dominates in her sport…it inspires me to train and get better like her. I want to dominate in a field.”
Evidently, Jones has a good support system behind her, confident that she will be a lasting inspiration for many. Christian Bernezar, a Washingtonville varsity wrestler, commented that “she does a lot of work, not just during the season, but during the summer and the off season as well…and I think it can inspire a lot of people in the younger grades.”
Alexis’ success is a highlight in Washingtonville High School, showcasing a perfect balance of determination in both academics and athleticism. Alexis points out that “cross-country is run mostly by White people. I want to show that not only White girls can do distance, and that it is possible for Black girls to be good at it.” With setting several records in her three years of running, Alexis is definitely an inspiration, and is a perfect example of Black Excellence, as she exceeds expectations every time she goes to compete.
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