Sports Exploration: All-American Alexis Holmes Ignored Doubters

Photo: Alexis Holmes rose to become one of the best sprinters in the nation despite people's opinions.

Alexis Holmes is a junior All-American sprinter at the University of Kentucky. After beginning her career at Penn State in 2019, she transferred to Kentucky while finding success at both institutions.

She was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and earned Big Ten and SEC championships as well as being named an All-American three times. Before she became one of the best 400-meter sprinters in the United States, she had a journey that we will use this feature to explore.

On July 15, 2018, The Hartford Courant reported about how Holmes earned her first scholarship offer in eighth grade as a basketball player. By the time she was a sophomore in high school, Lori Riley of The Hartford Courant reported, "She wasn't passionate about the sport. She knew it would be hard for her parents to accept, so she wrote them a letter, telling them she wanted to focus on track instead."

Her father Craig Holmes said that when she gave up basketball many people told her she would never make it in track. "They told her it's harder in track," Holmes told The Hartford Current. "There's not as many scholarships. You're never going to be able to do it. That's all she needed to here."

Two years later as a senior, Holmes crossed the finish line first at the New Balance National Track and Field championship, winning the 400-meter dash with a meet record time of 51.21. That win helped solidify her as Connecticut's 2018 Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. During the 2018 outdoor season she set records at the New England Prep School Track Association Championships. She ran the 100 meters in 12.24 seconds, 200 meters in 24.86 and 400 meters in 53.95. On June 23, 2018, her high school coach at Cheshire Academy, Eric Sacco told Record Journal, "Alexis will go down as one of the most dominant sprinters in New England prep track history. She's a consummate athlete with a strong work ethic, dedication and ability."

There is a lesson in Holmes' success. She was told that track and field would not workout and to stick with basketball. Holmes left a sport behind that was so promising, that she got an offer as an eighth grader. She followed her passion, worked hard and became a national champion in track and field. She bet on herself, ignored the naysayers and won.

In 2019, at Penn State Holmes broke a 30-year Big Ten record, winning the indoor 400 meters championship at 52.14. That time was also a school record. She was the only freshman that qualified for the national indoor final, where she placed fourth. From there she competed in the Under 20 Pan American World Championship meet. She was a part of a gold medal winning team that set a world record in the 1,600-meter relay at 3:24.04. She also placed second in the 400 meters, earning herself a silver medal.

As a sophomore at Kentucky Holmes dominated by twice being named the SEC Women's Runner of the Week before capturing the SEC indoor 400-meter dash championship. Holmes was headed to the NCAA championship meet but it was shut down due to the outbreak of COVID-19. She was awarded All-American honors following the 2020 indoor season.

Holmes is also getting it done in the classroom as well. She was named to the SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll during the summer of 2020.

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