At just 17 years old, Alexis Davis is already carving out a powerful name for herself on the track. A junior sprinter with a heart full of passion and determination, Davis runs the 400m, 200m, and 100m events. But her path to becoming a standout athlete didn’t come easily. It’s a story of perseverance, growth, and the power of not giving up.
Davis didn’t exactly jump headfirst into track. Last year, she showed up at Montbello for day one of tryouts and then ghosted the whole thing. The timing just wasn’t right. But something shifted this year—a gut feeling, maybe.
“I said, why not give it a try again and, you know, see what is different this time,” she said with a shrug.
This time around, she actually stuck it out. After making the team, her coaches told her which events she’d be running, and Davis laughs about it now.
“I had absolutely no clue what they were talking about,” she admits now. “But I was like, ‘Whatever, I’m in.'”
That roll-with-it attitude paid off. Now, she’s crushing it as a sprinter who’s found her groove and genuinely loves what she does.
For Davis, the best part of running is the competition.
“I’m very competitive,” she says with a smile. But what drives her isn’t just beating others; it’s about pushing herself and improving every time she races.
“I love my coaches,” she continues. “Even though we have hard days, they push me to be better. They’re willing to help me improve in the summer, and I’m ready to put in that work.”
Her coach has been nudging her toward the 400m event, which honestly wasn’t her cup of tea at first.
“I don’t always want to run the 400,” Davis admits, “But my coach says, ‘The faster you go, the quicker you’ll get it over with.’ And I believe him.”
It’s exactly that kind of trust and pep talk that has lit a fire under Davis, giving her the guts to tackle this challenge head-on, particularly on those days when the race seemed so long that she wanted to just give up
When life throws its worst at her, Davis draws strength from her support network.
“Sometimes it feels really hard, and I want to quit,” Davis explained. “But the people who came to watch me didn’t come to see me quit. So I want to show them that I’m a person who keeps going, no matter how tough it gets.”
It’s a beautiful cycle with her friends too, due to the fact that they push her and also keep her going. They motivate her to run, and in return, she inspires them to keep pushing themselves.
As with any athlete, nerves are a part of the game. Davis admits that when she steps into her race lane, she feels a rush of nervous energy.
“When I see the people I’m running with, I think, ‘Oh my, is this who I’m really running against?’” she admits.
When her competitors share their times and they’re faster than hers, the nerves kick in even more.
“It gets scarier when they hold that ‘ready, set’ for a long time,” she says, her voice filled with the anticipation of the moment.
But Davis has learned how to shake off those nerves and trust in her training.
“What goes through my mind is, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to win or if I’m going to throw up,’” she says. “But the truth is, those thoughts happen to everyone. It’s normal to feel uncertain before a race. Everyone is dealing with the same nerves.”
After the race, regardless of how it turned out, Davis takes a moment to reflect on her performance, feeling a sense of pride.
“Some days, I think I could have done better,” she states. ”But on other days, I’m just grateful that I pushed through and finished, even when I doubted myself. It’s all about giving it your best shot. At the end of the day, that’s what truly counts.”
Davis’ goal for this season is to qualify for State in the 400m, by hitting a time of 59 seconds. Currently, she races the 400m in 1 minute and 10 seconds, but with hard work and dedication, she’s determined to reach her target.
As an athlete, Davis is always learning, and she draws inspiration from those around her. She looks up to her teammates, especially Nebiat Ansebo. While Ansebo is a sophomore who runs incredibly fast and is a state qualifier for the 400m, Davis admires Ansebo’s determination and speed, and both women motivate each other to be the best they can be.
“My coaches, my teammates, and even myself—I believe in all of us,” Davis says confidently.
As she heads into her senior year, Davis is focused on continuing her track journey with heart, dedication, and the support of those around her. Her competitive spirit and relentless work ethic are what make her not just a sprinter, but a leader and a true inspiration to her team.
“I love track, and I’m going to keep doing it,” Davis says with a smile that says it all. “It’s a part of who I am.”
About the Writer: Clarissa Sanchez is a high school student at Northeast Early College participating in the DPS Launch Internship Program. Throughout this program, students gain first-hand experience in a high-interest career so they can develop skills and gain valuable experience in internships aligned with industry clusters.