‘Shows up to compete tough’: WSU sprinter finds new success ahead of conference meet
Being a short sprinter, Taniyah McMillian has always considered the 400 meters her mortal enemy.
“Everyone who knows me,” the Wichita State sophomore said, “knows I don’t like running the 400.”
So imagine how reluctant McMillian was last week when her WSU indoor track and field coaches told her they wanted her to run in the open 400 race last week at the Arkansas Qualifier.
And then imagine the surprise in the Oklahoma City native when she crossed the finish line in 54.87 seconds, the second-fastest indoor 400 time in program history. McMillian’s time is also fourth-best in the American Athletic Conference ahead of this week’s indoor championships Friday and Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama.
“I was very excited and I very proud of myself actually going out and doing it,” McMillian said. “Seeing how well I did, I see I actually have the talent for it.”
The talent was never a question for WSU track and field coach Steve Rainbolt and sprints coach John Wise, it was just convincing McMillian to give the open 400 a try.
McMillian, the school’s indoor record-holder in the 200, possesses the quick-twitch speed and power of a short sprinter and Rainbolt and Wise suspected she has had the strength to complete a strong 400. McMillian has run impressive legs on WSU’s 1,600 relay team before, but has never run an open 400.
“For those people who have never done it, they don’t understand how tough it is,” Rainbolt said. “They don’t understand the sensations that come over the human body when it is depleted and using lactic acid as a fuel source, and it’s unbelievably tough. I know that’s what is difficult for a lot of athletes moving up to the 400, but I think she’s going to find that she has such success with it, I bet she falls in love with it and I bet it becomes a favorite event.”
Rainbolt and Wise beamed with pride after seeing the experiment work out so favorably for McMillian, who is now all-in on embracing the 400 and potentially scoring the Shockers unexpected points in the race at the conference meet now.
“Man, it was a heck of a good time for a girl who has been a short sprinter,” Rainbolt said. “One thing that is really special about her is I find her to be a terrific competitor. She’s a girl who shows up to compete tough. I can see it in her eyes, visible evidence. I’m super excited about her championship meet.”
After finishing third last indoor season, the WSU women expect to once again contend for a conference championship this weekend against 2019 champion Houston and 2018 champion Cincinnati.
Even as one of WSU’s best sprinters of all-time, McMillian will have a difficult time scoring at the conference meet in a loaded field in the American. But she’s excited to add a new race to her repertoire, one she believes she can score high in at the conference meet.
“You have to have a strong mind frame because the 400 is more of a physical thing, honestly,” McMillian said. “You have to be able to push yourself even though you’re tired and even though everything is hurting, you have to continue to keep going in order to make it to the finish line.”
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