Senior Spotlight: Lilla McMillan
May 12, 2016 | Track & Field
By Kaitlin Maheu, Tulane Athletic Communications
Many students learn early on in their Tulane University education that life - like Mardi Gras - is a marathon, not a sprint. Ask senior Lilla McMillan, however, and she'll have different take on it.
McMillan began running track in high school, not thinking it would turn into anything serious. Little did she know, this decision would transform her college experience and bring her success she never dreamed possible.
"I started my freshman year of high school, so I was kind of late to "the game," McMillan explains. "I did it on a whim, and every day I'm so happy that I did it. I hate what-if scenarios, and that's the scariest what-if ever to me. What if I hadn't run track?"
In her four years at Tulane, the sociology major has competed both indoor and outdoor events with Tulane's track & field squad, running sprints ranging from 60-400m. She has also scratched her name in the record book on multiple occasions, and currently holds the school record in the indoor 200m sprint (23.55) and both indoor (52.34) and outdoor (51.86) 400m races.
"One of the coolest things has been getting the school records because I've been able to leave my mark on Tulane," McMillan said. "Tulane's a big enough school to give you the sense of feeling anonymous, so I think it's really cool to say that I left an impression on my team."
With exams behind her and the May 14th commencement ceremony quickly approaching, McMillan isn't quite done, as NCAA Regionals and Nationals are on the horizon. She has also qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials. But no matter what happens on the track, McMillan is happy with all she's done in her time here at Tulane.
"I'll probably miss training with my team and having the opportunity to come out to the track and forget everything that's going on," McMillan said. "It brings you some relaxation and peace of mind for a couple of hours just having that daily, allotted time with people you know who care about you."
But with four years of college races under her belt, she thinks it's time to hang up her spikes. Even though her competitive career is drawing to a close, the sprinter wouldn't trade the last four years for the world.
"It seems like it might be a missed opportunity," McMillan said, "but I just feel like the last four years have been so good to me and I've gotten so much out of them that another year or five years in track won't be like the end all, be all of my experience. I think I've had enough of a good time and accomplished enough here to feel okay stopping."
For all the friends and teammates she's leaving behind, she has a few words of advice, both in athletics and in life.
"Trust your training," McMillan urges. "There's no reason not to give it everything you have. You've worked so hard to be where you are. You can't control a lot of things, but you can control your head, work ethic and attitude."
Players Mentioned
