Ever since the sixth grade, Tayloran Atwell has been a runner.
She’s always preferred long distance running, and as she competed on her high school team in Benton, Illinois, and then at Augustana College, she came to realize that running was about much more than the exercise itself.
“Running and being on the track team gives you a sense of belonging and family,” said Atwell. “You’ve always got someone cheering for you, whether it's a coach or your teammates. Distance running, for me, helped me find myself. Running teaches you all the great things about life, whether it's hard work paying off or consistency. Those things help you build together.”
Atwell, who is in her first season as the head coach of the Geneseo High School girls’ varsity track and field team, also teaches eighth grade physical science at Geneseo Middle School.
“Coach Atwell was an assistant coach for our girls’ cross country team in the fall and right away it was clear how much she cared about the individuals on her team,” said Joe Nichols, Athletic Director. “She values the relationships and is really committed to the wellbeing of every student-athlete. She’s a positive, enthusiastic leader who will help our track and field team improve and grow.”
One of Atwell’s tenets as a coach is a result of her two years running for Augustana–and a less than successful attempt at being a long jumper.
“Running at the collegiate level taught me that you don't always have to be the best one to make an impact,” explained Atwell. “You can make an impact just by helping your teammate get better or being willing to step out of your comfort zone and try a new event.
Atwell continued, “It goes a long way when you're willing to put yourself out there and that’s something I’ve shared with my team. I’ve tried to show them what hard work looks like, what effort looks like, and those life lessons are huge. You may not always feel the best, but if you're still out here and you're still working, that goes a long way.”
After starting out at Augustana, Atwell transferred to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, where she received her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences. She then went on to earn a master’s degree in biomedical science from Midwestern University in Downers Grove.
She often sees connections between what takes place in her classroom and on the track.
“There's science behind running and there's science behind good nutrition and eating and sleep,” noted Atwell. “But in the end, teaching them what they need to know in the classroom, it also applies on the track. Getting your work done, being where you need to be on time, those are habits you need to have your life together and be a successful athlete.”
Atwell added, “For me, it's teaching them the fundamentals. Let's start a good foundation and we'll go from there.”
As Atwell got to know Geneseo and her student-athletes, she quickly realized how much the community cares about its schools and sports.
“The community loves to support us,” said Atwell. “They show up whether it's windy, whether it's cold, whether we're just looking for help, and that's huge. The second thing I've learned is these girls are fiercely competitive. They would run four events every day if you'd let them. I love their competitive spirit, and I love that they are teammates first and competitors second.”
As for this year’s team, Atwell is optimistic about what can be accomplished.
“We've got some huge opportunities,” she said. “We've got Brooklyn Smith, a distance runner who had a great performance in cross country. She's looking to hopefully medal in either the two-mile or mile. We've got Bella Brown, who could possibly make state in the shot put or discus. In a sectional meet, you get that energy and anything's possible.”
Whether it is Smith, Brown, or any of her other competitors, Atwell’s approach remains the same.
“I really want to stress the positivity, making the relationships, and overall, getting 1% better every day,” Atwell said. “Whether it's improving by an inch or it's not scratching a jump, really fostering that positivity. I'm a person that really believes in mindset and how we can get a little bit better today. How can we help someone else? That’s what I’ve tried to bring to the team.”
