After eight years in between indoor races, mother and former California state 100-meter champion in high school and junior college achieves goal by making first Division 2 national meet

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Valexsia Droughn gained recognition as one of the top prep sprinters in the country in 2009 when she won the California state title in the 100-meter dash during her sophomore season at Rio Mesa High.

A decade later, the 25-year-old Droughn will return to the national stage, this time as a Cal State Los Angeles sophomore competing in the 60-meter dash at the NCAA Division 2 Indoor Championships at Pittsburg State University in Kansas.

It marks the first time since her senior year at Rio Mesa in 2011, racing in the California state indoor final in Fresno, that Droughn will compete at an indoor championship meet in the 60-meter dash.

“I’m just happy to be here and I’m glad I get this opportunity to go out and showcase what I can do,” said Droughn, who is joined in Friday’s prelims by senior teammate J’Liyah Miles, the fifth-place finisher at last year’s finals in 7.45 seconds.

“I have great competitors and it’s going to be great to see what they can do as well.”

Since graduating from Rio Mesa, Droughn has given birth to two children and attended multiple schools before arriving this fall at Cal State L.A.

She represented Ventura College by winning the California Community College Athletic Association state title in the 100-meter dash and placing second in the 200 in May at the championship meet in Bakersfield.

Droughn used that momentum and experience to begin a new chapter this year with the Golden Eagles, who have crowned multiple Division 2 national indoor sprint champions at 55 or 60 meters, most recently in 2006 with April Brown, who holds the 60 program record at 7.43.

“She’s definitely been a great addition to the program,” said Khallifah Rosser, a 2016 Division 2 national champion for Cal State L.A. in the men’s 400-meter hurdles.

“It’s always good for the younger athletes to have as many role models and veterans around as possible to be able to learn from.”

Droughn used competitions in January and February in Flagstaff, Ariz., and Seattle, Wash., to regain familiarity with running on an indoor track, along with facing elite challengers in preparation for racing this weekend.

“Competing at a collegiate level is different than just going out there (in high school) and doing a workout,” Droughn said. “It’s much more electrifying and I would definitely say that my first-ever experience going out there was nerve-racking, but I held it together and kept my composure and gave it my all.”

Miles is tied for the No. 2 indoor performer in program history with her effort last season and Droughn is No. 4 at 7.47, which has been adjusted to 7.51 with the altitude conversion.

Both athletes need to either prevail in their prelim heat, or produce one of the next five fastest non-winning times to advance to Saturday’s final.

“So far, my blocks could definitely be better,” said Droughn, who has remained sharp by racing outdoors in California the past two weeks in the 100-meter dash and 4x100 relay.

“It hasn’t been my fantastic, wonderful start, but I have great coaches and a great team that are supportive and they continuously help me get better every day, so when I do have to come and perform at that type of level, I can honestly do it.”

If both Droughn and Miles can advance, it would mark the first time that Cal State L.A. would have two female athletes in the national indoor sprint final since 2001, when Louise Ayetotche won the 55 in 6.93 and Nicole Duncan took second in 7.00.

Duncan then returned in 2002 to win the 60 title for the Golden Eagles in 7.45, joining Ayetotche, Brown and Christy Opara, the 1992 winner in the 55, as Cal State L.A. national champions.

Adams State senior Dianna Johnson has won the past two Division 2 national titles is trying to become the first female athlete to win three in a row in the 60 since Barbara Pierre achieved the feat at Saint Augustine’s in 2007-09.

Droughn credits the support of her mother Monika Akuna, along with Cal State L.A. coaches Tina Fernandes and Orentheus Hutcherson, for allowing her to balance a schedule of being a mother, a student and a collegiate athlete with All-America aspirations.

“They understand completely that I’m a mom as well and when I need to be away, then I’m away, but when I come here, they make it easy for me to transition back into just being an athlete and giving it full force,” Droughn said. “When I’m on the track, it’s business first and then pleasure after.”

After elevating to the top of the high school and junior college ranks during her track career, Droughn enters her national championship debut as more of an underdog. But that has only provided more motivation for a woman who has learned to appreciate the value of delayed gratification during the past decade, both on and off the track.

“Definitely to come out of it healthy, that’s what our main goal is right now,” Droughn said. “But I want to put all that training that we’ve done these past few weeks into playtime. I’m excited about the challenge.”