Contact: Ava Yurchison, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302
(written by Emily Zadny, Student Sports Information Assistant)

Mar. 6, 2017- For North Central College men's track and field athlete Nolan McKenna, going a day without a run is not in his schedule. From the time he was in kindergarten going for morning runs with his mother, to his college career, running has become a part of his everyday life and more than just a passion.  

"[Running is] a big stress relief for me," said McKenna. "It's one of the things that makes me happiest in the world and I feel at peace."  

McKenna knew that going to college and not running competitively was not an option. This passion led him down what he thought was the perfect path to continue his career: a Division I scholarship and opportunity to run at Iowa State University.  

"Coming out of high school, I thought I needed to go Division I because I thought that was where I was going to be the best, that there was some kind of a 'magical aspect,'" he said. "People put value on the fact that you're a Division I athlete. I also wanted to run for the coach; he had had success in the past, so I figured that was expected." 

But it did not take long for McKenna to realize that something was not right. He redshirted his freshman year of cross country, running in races unattached, but it wasn't the same as going out and scoring points for the team. He wasn't seeing the results he had hoped to achieve by running at the Division I level. 

Going into his second cross country season with freshman eligibility, McKenna ran two races before the coaching staff told him to train on his own. Hearing those words really impacted him and he began to reconsider his passion. 

"I wasn't running how I wanted and I wasn't getting the chance to run," he said. "I wanted to race more; I'm the kind of person who wants to race as much as possible, even multiple races every weekend. 

 "[I] felt out of place with the team and coaches and that really tested my motivation and work ethic. It made question whether or not I wanted to do this." 

McKenna started looking at his options for the following year, knowing that something needed to change and perhaps that something was his school. He was looking for a school with a large, yet close knit, team as well as a knowledgeable and supportive coaching staff to develop his talent.  

The Wheaton native found all of that and more close to home at North Central. 

"I have already raced way more and it's paying off in personal records," he said about his experience at North Central. "It's also a lot more individual: Iowa State was more structured as in 'this is what you're going to run' and here, there are more choices and options in my training. It puts responsibility and ownership on me for my own running, which I really like."  

McKenna has started off his first track and field campaign at North Central on a high note. As a sophomore, he ranks ninth nationally in the 5,000-meter run after his first place performance at the Cardinal Opener on Feb. 20 that also named him College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Track Athlete of the Week.  

While McKenna makes it look easy on the track, adjusting to a new school, team, and philosophy after transferring was not. The challenges started back when he was still attending Iowa State and knew he would not return in the fall. 

"Going to a school and realizing it's not the right fit is really hard--I felt as though I was breaking up with a  girlfriend," he laughed. "Once I knew I was transferring, it felt kind of awkward, like telling a girlfriend, 'hey, I'm going to dump you but we're still going to date for a few months.'  

"But there's nothing magical about Division I. It's not going to make the difference on your individual development," he added. "You personally can grow and progress anywhere you are at as long as you have the right chemistry with coaches and teammates." 

That seems to be the case thus far as McKenna has embraced his next chapter as a Cardinal. He attributes the smooth transition to his teammates and the positive coaching influence of the staff, especially his distance coach, Al Carius. 

"It's a lot of fun. He makes it a fun and positive environment. And you never know when you'll get a life lesson," he said with a smile.  

McKenna has gone through a few transitions in his life, including a significant one in his diet. After discovering he was lactose intolerant and how much better he felt cutting out dairy, McKenna began to wonder why he was even consuming animal products. He has a love for animals, volunteering at the animal shelter in the summer, and realized how hypocritical it was of him to do that while eating food made from animal products. 

One experience that sealed the deal on his decision to go vegan occurred at Iowa State. Concerned with their athletes' health and iron levels, McKenna said his coaches had the team eat liver. Needless to say, that grossed him out. 

According to McKenna, being vegan is not hard at all and he has found ways to maintain his lifestyle as a student athlete.  

"I don't think [it's challenging,]" he said. "I think people would be surprised with how much they eat already that is naturally vegan. You have to be okay eating a lot of the same stuff--I try to vary my diet as much as possible but you have to be creative with it. Sometimes, there is no vegan option so I make my own meal with cooked vegetables or the salad bar." 

After 20 weeks on campus, McKenna has experienced a smooth transition to life at North Central. Smaller class sizes and relationships with professors were welcomed changes for him coming from a big school where he felt like only a number in class and may have his professor for class again. 

Despite his sophomore eligibility, he will wrap up his junior year in June. An exercise science major, McKenna says that he has almost as much passion for his future career as he does for running. 

"I'd say I have a big heart," he said with a smile. "I have a passion for health and fitness and want to coach. I think that comes from having a high school coach who was a P.E teacher. [My coach, Chris Kuntz] was a huge role model for me-- he gave me a lot of support in high school and I based what I want to do in my life on what he does because I see him as someone who is positive and happy. That had an impact on my life and I want to do the same for others."  

In his free time, he also works Even Staff for North Central athletic events. Keeping everything in balance can be difficult for student athletes, but McKenna says that his key to success has been "faking it til' you make it," as well as refined time management skills and organization. 

McKenna is always looking for ways to challenge himself, both physically and mentally. He is well-versed in the arts of solving Rubix cubes, juggling, and the kendama, a Japanese skill toy. He recently added yo-yo tricks to his skills repertoire.  

"My mind is always running so I enjoy fiddling with things," said McKenna. "That means when I'm not running, I need to be doing something!" 

With his first indoor track and field season coming to a close, McKenna is happy with what he and the team has accomplished, but he already has goals in place for what's to come, including the national championships and the outdoor track and field season. 

"[I want to] have fun!" he said with a smile. "But honestly, I want to qualify for nationals and continue running personal bests. I'd like to be an All-American and of course I have aspirations of being a national champion! No one really runs to be second--if I'm going to run I'm going to give my full effort." 

McKenna will have his opportunity this weekend, competing on his home track in the 5,000-meter run at the Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championship. Field events begin at 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday with running events beginning at 1 p.m. both days.