Who says that a walk-on athlete can’t have the same success as a recruited athlete? Winston-Salem State’s Tajanel McNeill wasn’t recruited to run track in college, but she tried out for the team during her freshman year at WSSU and made it.
McNeill, now a junior, has been chosen by Head Women’s Track and Field Coach Inez Turner as this issue’s “Game Ball” recipient. Coach Turner said that the Greensboro native has continually gotten better since first joining the team as a walk-on in 2012.
“I use her a lot as an example,” Turner said.
“I always tell my athletes that the opportunity is always there for them to be successful. It just comes down to coaching, them putting their minds to it and wanting it.
Tajanel has proven that.
“She’s a high jumper, triple jumper, long jumper and hur-dler. We also put her in the 4×100 relay quite a bit.”
WSSU just finished competing in the indoor track and field national champion-ship, and McNeill left the meet having been named an All-American. After just one outdoor meet, McNeill has already qualified for nationals in the triple jump.
The outdoor conference championship will take place April 18-19 at JDL Fast Track.
Q: What made you decide to walk-on here at WSSU?
McNeill: I’ve had experience with trying out for teams since I was in the seventh grade. Nobody came out and told me to join the track team, so I just brought the same mindset that I had in high school to college. Even though I didn’t have a scholarship, track has been a part of my life since middle school, so I had to at least give it a try.
Q: Are there any athletes you look up to?
McNeill: Christian Taylor [USA Track & Field]. He went to Florida, won a couple championships there, and he’s won one or two gold medals in the triple jump for the U.S.
He’s just a great athlete, and he competes in a lot of the same events I do, so I always try to keep an eye on what he’s doing.
Q: Do you have any pre-meet rituals?
McNeill: The Jump Squad, those of us who are jumpers, always have to be goofy. We jumpers always get hype and just have fun because if we get too serious, we can lose focus.
Q: What are your plans after WSSU?
McNeill: I’m switching my major from nursing to exercise science. I plan to get my physical therapy degree and become a physical therapist, but I also want to pursue becoming a professional athlete. I’ve already talked to my coaches, and they’ve set me up with some people that can help me with that once I leave Winston, but for now, I’m just going to keep training.