TF2k23: College Review

This summer we will celebrate some of our favorite athletes in the world of collegiate track and field during the 2023 indoor and outdoor track and field seasons.

Taylor Beard - Cincinnati

When her season ended, former Cincinnati All-American Taylor Beard announced that she was heading to compete in the Big Ten as she will attend Illinois next season.

The high jumper from Winchester, Virginia finished her career at Cincinnati with a bang. After missing the 2022 indoor and outdoor seasons due to injury and surgery, Beard took championships in the high jump at the American indoor and outdoor championships meets. She also had good showings at the NCAA Championships during indoor and outdoor seasons. Beard placed ninth at the indoor meet and eighth at the outdoor meet earning All-America honors for the third and fourth times in her career.

A social work major, Beard first became an All-American during the 2021 season when she also captured the honor during indoor and outdoor seasons. Her she won her first conference gold during the outdoor portion of that year as well. Prior to her collegiate career Bear won seven state championships at John Handley High School in Virginia. During her senior season (2019) Beard earned state titles in the high jump, long jump and triple jump. She also was the first Virginia high school female in 43 years to jump over six feet that season.

Nicole Sreenan - Tennessee

A native of Elburn, Illinois, Nicole Sreenan arrived at Tennessee for the 2022 season after being as good as anybody on the NCAA Division II level. At Grand Valley State from 2017-21, Sreenan was a multiple time All-American in the 400-meter relay, 1,600-meter relay, 200 meters and 400 meters.

In 2021, Sreenan won NCAA Division II golds in the 400 meters and 400-meter relay during outdoor season after taking the 400 meters championship during indoor season. Her initial season on the NCAA Division I level at Tennessee was a bit quiet as she scored points with top six and seven finishes in the 1,600-meter relay and distance medley relay respectively at the SEC Indoor Championships.

This year Sreenan returned to her familiar All-American form when she and her Tennessee teammates competed at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 400-meter relay and 1,600-meter relay. She also earned Academic All-America and Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll credits.

Natalea Hillen - Point Park

A competitor on the NAIA level, Natalia Hillen has shined throughout her career at Point Park. As a rookie in 2021, Hillen won her first River States Conference outdoor title in the 1,600-meter relay with teammates Kiera Cutright, Selena Canello and Tamia Bradford. In her second season Hillen took open titles in the 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles at the River States outdoor meet.

This season she debuted at the NAIA indoor meet where she competed in the Distance Medley Relay. Hillen successfully defended her 100-meter hurdles outdoor conference title and competed at the NAIA Outdoor Championships for the first time.

Hillen has kept busy off of the track as a television show host and social media director for her school's TV station. She's also a signed as a model with Docherty Talent Agency.

Check out the previous issue of the TF2k23: College Review, featuring Gianna Bullock of Oregon, Yanique Dayle of Ohio State and Kennedy Brace of Miami. Click the link below:

We've got more coming in this series so stay tuned for the best athletes on various collegiate levels of track and field. 'Til next time!