A Versatile Alberta Hurdler Ready to Make Her Mark in NCAA Division I
MileSplit BC is proud to highlight standout athletes from across the country, including our neighbours just one province over. Alberta's Alexandra Watson is one of those rising talents, and with her commitment to the University of Delaware, she is now set to take the next step in her collegiate journey.
Watson's journey began when she was eight years old. Track was never a deliberate plan. Instead, it grew from a simple suggestion at her daycare's track and field day, where she surprised herself with how well she ran. She remembers her best friend telling her she should try joining a club shortly after. At the time she was doing gymnastics, but the idea of a new challenge appealed to her. "I was doing really well in the running events, and I wanted a new sport, so I tried it, and I've been in it ever since."
A Resume Built on Versatility
Her progression through the sport is reflected in her personal bests:
300 m Hurdles: 46.66
400 m: 55.91
400 m Hurdles: 1:02.97
600 m: 1:35.92
These marks have translated into years of national-level performances, including:
Four-time Team Alberta athlete at Legion Nationals
2023 U16 800 m Bronze
2025 Canadian U18 Indoor 400 m Silver
Triple Gold at the 2025 Western Canada Team Challenge
Legion Nationals has been one of the defining experiences of her youth career. Competing there four years in a row broadened her competitive world."Legions really expanded the pool," she says. "You're not racing the same girls from Alberta. You're competing nationally, meeting new people, and building connections."
One memory stands above the rest: medalling in the 4x400 relay in 2024."I was close with a lot of the girls on that team, and relays are always the most fun. That medal meant a lot."
Learn how elite performances in more than one event can support Division I recruitment →
The High School Path and Finding the Hurdles
Watson got candid about the difference between Canadian and American high school track. "High school athletics here isn't as big in Alberta as it is in the States," she says. After competing at meets like Idaho and Arcadia, she saw just how large the American system is by comparison.
Even so, high school served an important role for her: it introduced her to the hurdles. Her coach suggested she try the 300m hurdles, and the event immediately resonated with her."I'm always open to trying new things," she says. "My first 300 hurdles race was actually fun... the last 100m hurt a lot, but I really liked the event."
Training under coach Joanna Cooper, a former Alberta 300m hurdles provincial record holder, helped her transition confidently from middle distance to a 400/400 hurdles athlete.