Senior thrower Brianna Villanueva is the latest Anteater to be featured in our Q&A series. Brianna, who holds top-five marks in the hammer, discus and indoor weight throw, talks about the keys to her success as well as her goals for the upcoming campaign and beyond.
 
Q: You had a breakout season last year both indoor and outdoor with multiple PRs and all-conference awards. What would you say led to that success? 
A: Trusting in my coach and just doing what I needed to do in the weight room as well as at throwing practices. My confidence was a big part of how well I performed last year. It's not something that my coaches could just give to me, but I needed to find it for myself and I finally did. 
 
Q: What is your most memorable moment so far in your UCI collegiate career? 
A: The conference championships last year in Santa Barbara. There was so much energy in the throwing events and it was exciting to do well and compete that weekend. Plus being on the podium for both my events was one of my goals for the season, so achieving that was exciting. 
 
Q: What are you goals for your senior campaign? 
A: I have high expectations for myself for my final year here at UCI. I hope to be the conference champion in both hammer and discus, break the school records in the hammer and the weight and go to NCAA's for both Indoor and Outdoor. 
 
Q: Do you have a routine you do to get pumped for a meet? 
A: Usually my warmup is my routine that gets me pumped up. I'll usually listen to some rap music to get me going during my warmup and I will visualize. Visualizing helps me calm down from the nerves because I will see the perfect throw in my head. 
 
Q: You and recent alum Barbara Coward were UCIs two best throwers last year. Can you describe your relationship and what you learned from her over the last few years? 
A: We have a pretty close relationship along with EB (Elizabeth Akindele). Barb is someone who I have looked up to in track but she has also been someone that's always been there for me while I have been in college. Barb, EB, and I are like the three musketeers out on the track. One important thing I've learned from Barb is her confidence. Throughout this past year, I have been able to find my own confidence in myself and incorporate that into my throwing. 
 
Q: When did you realize track and field was something you were passionate about? 
A: Throughout high school I always had a passion for track but just wasn't sure if that was something I would pursue in college. Once I got to college, I realized how much potential I could have in the sport and from then on it grew on me. 
 
Q: What drew you to Public Health Policy as your major? What are your career goals? 
A: The biggest thing that drew me to Public Health was the education and prevention aspect of health promotion. I want people to be educated on what aspects of their life affect their mental and emotional well-being. I hope to pursue a career in health education and promotion for corporation's employees. 
 
Q: Besides track and field are there any other sports you enjoy? 
A: Softball is a sport that I love to watch and play. I used to play when I was younger and my mom played in college, so it is something we bond over together. 
 
Q: What do you like to do in your free time? 
A: I love hanging out with my friends and family or watching movies. My friends and family are a good outlet away from school and track and have always been my biggest supporters. I also like to shop but it's not very healthy for my wallet. 
 
Q: Who is your favorite professional athlete and why? 
A: Sandra Perkovic. She is a discus thrower for Croatia. I love the way she carries herself on and off the track, but she is also just a stud.