University Southern California Trojans
Jacqueline Duarte Nears the Finish Line of Resilient Collegiate Journey
January 14, 2026 | Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Features
Jacqueline Duarte felt years of perseverance pay off as her teammates cheered her down the final stretch of the last race of senior year. The USC Cross Country captain shared tears of joy with her family after winning her heat in what she refers to as the defining moment of her collegiate career.
Duarte started her collegiate journey in a situation no athlete expects after a devastating injury threatened to end her running career. Determined to fight for her passion, the redshirt senior chose to undergo surgery and bet on her own resilience. The decision paid off, and she was able to return to the sport she loves despite a long and restricting road to recovery.
Though she couldn't participate in team practices, Duarte remained present for each and every one. Duarte describes that first year as a period of rediscovery and a time when she uncovered new interests while deepening her lifelong love for running. Whether filming cinematic videos of her teammates or cheering them on during workouts, staying present became her way of staying involved. Those moments shifted her mentality and taught her to never take anything for granted. They also sparked the beginning of her passion for filmmaking which she later pursued as a minor at USC.
Reflecting on her journey as a student-athlete, Duarte says that running as a fifth-year master's student feels like it is entirely her own choice. She runs simply because she loves the sport. Now serving as this year's cross country team captain, she shared that love and the lessons she gained from her injury with her teammates, encouraging them to keep pushing forward and trust that their hard work will pay off.
Her motivation is also rooted in the people closest to her. The Chino Hills native looks back on her high school career; she never expected running at USC to be an achievable feat for her to reach.
As a first generation college student, Duarte finds it rewarding when her family members are able to share the experience with her. She recalls the moment when her grandmother cried when taking her first steps onto campus. This family bond was brought even closer when her younger sister, Isabella Duarte, transferred to USC in 2024.
Duarte describes the camaraderie she shares with her sister as something she's never experienced with another teammate.
"We just give each other a look," Duarte said. "The kind that says 'you can finish this,' and 'give whatever you have to push it.' That's just what you get when you know someone so well." Before every race, the sisters also pray together, furthering their bond.
Along with this shared moment, Duarte has several superstitions to help her get in the zone. One of them is a 15-minute prayer walk around the course. She uses this time to keep her brain in race mode and focus on the task at hand. She also wears a pink headband to every race. She started the tradition in her soccer days inspired by one of her early sports heroes, Alex Morgan.
While her superstitions are deeply personal, Duarte praises the rest of her cross country teammates for making the sport more meaningful, viewing them as not only training partners but as some of her closest friends.
"It's a sport where you see each other at your most vulnerable moments. Disgustingly sweaty, throwing up on the sidelines after workouts. There's no other sport like this, and naturally that makes you closer with people who see you bawling your eyes out at the finish line," Duarte said.
Duarte also acknowledges the dynamic shift that comes with having a female coach, saying it allows the team to be more vulnerable and connect on a deeper level. The relationship is especially meaningful to her as Brenda Martinez was someone she looked up to as her biggest sports hero long before Martinez joined the team as her coach.
She recalls meeting the former Olympian for the first time as a high schooler at a camp in Big Bear. Martinez served as an incredible mentor ever since, guiding both Duarte and her sister while building a bond that extends well beyond athletics.
Duarte's experiences with Martinez not only shaped her as an athlete, but also inspired her to mentor others. She is the co-president and leads public relations and social media for the Los Angeles chapter of Run Your City, an organization dedicated to giving K-8 children the opportunity to participate in sports. For Duarte, this role is especially rewarding. She shared the excitement of seeing young girls, who like her, never imagined that USC would be within reach, explore the Track and Field facilities for the first time.
"They were in awe of everything and it brought me back to my first time stepping in that building. I was just so grateful to be in there. To provide these little kids that experience is huge," Duarte said.
These experiences have furthered Duarte's desire to combine her passion for athletics with her love for filmmaking. She is currently working on a project aimed at bringing awareness to the mental health struggles of athletes, reflecting her commitment to engage in meaningful work that gives back to the community. After graduating from USC, she hopes to pursue a career in the film industry with a focus on athletics or in sports production. Though her time as a student-athlete is nearing its end, Duarte says she loves being an athlete in any capacity and hopes to get into marathoning in the future.
For Duarte, each of these achievements is more than it appears on the surface. They are a testament to the perseverance required of a first-generation college student and made even greater by the demands of being a student-athlete. From overcoming a career-threatening injury to competing at a level she once thought was out of reach, Duarte demonstrated her hard work and resilience. With the support of her family, teammates and mentors, she built a collegiate career as not only a standout athlete, but also as a true leader.
Duarte started her collegiate journey in a situation no athlete expects after a devastating injury threatened to end her running career. Determined to fight for her passion, the redshirt senior chose to undergo surgery and bet on her own resilience. The decision paid off, and she was able to return to the sport she loves despite a long and restricting road to recovery.
Though she couldn't participate in team practices, Duarte remained present for each and every one. Duarte describes that first year as a period of rediscovery and a time when she uncovered new interests while deepening her lifelong love for running. Whether filming cinematic videos of her teammates or cheering them on during workouts, staying present became her way of staying involved. Those moments shifted her mentality and taught her to never take anything for granted. They also sparked the beginning of her passion for filmmaking which she later pursued as a minor at USC.
Reflecting on her journey as a student-athlete, Duarte says that running as a fifth-year master's student feels like it is entirely her own choice. She runs simply because she loves the sport. Now serving as this year's cross country team captain, she shared that love and the lessons she gained from her injury with her teammates, encouraging them to keep pushing forward and trust that their hard work will pay off.
Her motivation is also rooted in the people closest to her. The Chino Hills native looks back on her high school career; she never expected running at USC to be an achievable feat for her to reach.
As a first generation college student, Duarte finds it rewarding when her family members are able to share the experience with her. She recalls the moment when her grandmother cried when taking her first steps onto campus. This family bond was brought even closer when her younger sister, Isabella Duarte, transferred to USC in 2024.
Duarte describes the camaraderie she shares with her sister as something she's never experienced with another teammate.
"We just give each other a look," Duarte said. "The kind that says 'you can finish this,' and 'give whatever you have to push it.' That's just what you get when you know someone so well." Before every race, the sisters also pray together, furthering their bond.
Along with this shared moment, Duarte has several superstitions to help her get in the zone. One of them is a 15-minute prayer walk around the course. She uses this time to keep her brain in race mode and focus on the task at hand. She also wears a pink headband to every race. She started the tradition in her soccer days inspired by one of her early sports heroes, Alex Morgan.
While her superstitions are deeply personal, Duarte praises the rest of her cross country teammates for making the sport more meaningful, viewing them as not only training partners but as some of her closest friends.
"It's a sport where you see each other at your most vulnerable moments. Disgustingly sweaty, throwing up on the sidelines after workouts. There's no other sport like this, and naturally that makes you closer with people who see you bawling your eyes out at the finish line," Duarte said.
Duarte also acknowledges the dynamic shift that comes with having a female coach, saying it allows the team to be more vulnerable and connect on a deeper level. The relationship is especially meaningful to her as Brenda Martinez was someone she looked up to as her biggest sports hero long before Martinez joined the team as her coach.
She recalls meeting the former Olympian for the first time as a high schooler at a camp in Big Bear. Martinez served as an incredible mentor ever since, guiding both Duarte and her sister while building a bond that extends well beyond athletics.
Duarte's experiences with Martinez not only shaped her as an athlete, but also inspired her to mentor others. She is the co-president and leads public relations and social media for the Los Angeles chapter of Run Your City, an organization dedicated to giving K-8 children the opportunity to participate in sports. For Duarte, this role is especially rewarding. She shared the excitement of seeing young girls, who like her, never imagined that USC would be within reach, explore the Track and Field facilities for the first time.
"They were in awe of everything and it brought me back to my first time stepping in that building. I was just so grateful to be in there. To provide these little kids that experience is huge," Duarte said.
These experiences have furthered Duarte's desire to combine her passion for athletics with her love for filmmaking. She is currently working on a project aimed at bringing awareness to the mental health struggles of athletes, reflecting her commitment to engage in meaningful work that gives back to the community. After graduating from USC, she hopes to pursue a career in the film industry with a focus on athletics or in sports production. Though her time as a student-athlete is nearing its end, Duarte says she loves being an athlete in any capacity and hopes to get into marathoning in the future.
For Duarte, each of these achievements is more than it appears on the surface. They are a testament to the perseverance required of a first-generation college student and made even greater by the demands of being a student-athlete. From overcoming a career-threatening injury to competing at a level she once thought was out of reach, Duarte demonstrated her hard work and resilience. With the support of her family, teammates and mentors, she built a collegiate career as not only a standout athlete, but also as a true leader.
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