Courtesy of Coppin State Athletic Communications
A four-year letterwinner on the Coppin State cross country and track & field team, Tatiana Ogundeko is one of the fastest mid-distance runners in school-history. Earning All-MEAC honors in cross country this season with a 6th place finish at the conference championship (18:59.2), Ogundeko took second in the Mile at the MEAC Indoor Championships in 5:00.84 while breaking her own school record. The Waldorf, Md., native also owns the CSU record in the 1,500m outdoors (4:34.11) and owns a 800m personal record of 2:09.22.
Q: Why Did You Choose Coppin State?
I chose Coppin State because I wanted to attend a local HBCU that had a good track program, and I heard about Coppin State from some of my high school (North Point High School) alums.
Q: What is your Major and what would you like to do with it after graduation?
My major is Psychology and I would like to attend George Washington University for their Clinical Psychology graduate program.
Q: Are there any professors, faculty or staff members at Coppin that have made a lasting impact on you (Who & Why)?
Ms. Sandra Kirk and my track & field coach Carl Hicks.
Ms. Kirk impacted me because I planned on leaving Coppin and never running track again during the fall of my junior year. She told me to persevere through my hardships. And I listened; I've been competing better ever since. Hearing about her passing away in the fall of my senior year gave me a sense of having something to run for. I was unaware of her battling an illness so when I heard about her circumstances of how she passed, I had no excuse but to compete to my full potential.
Coach Hicks impacted me the most during my entire college career as an athlete. He never gave up on me even when I gave up on myself. He believed in achieving what some would say "the impossible" and I believe in his vision. I believe in Coach Hicks vision so much that it soon became the vision I have for myself.
Q: Did you play any other sports growing up and what made you decide on track & field? Who were your favorite athletes growing up and why?
I played basketball from middle school and high school. I eventually ran track because my high school basketball coach wanted the team to run cross country for conditioning, and I ended the season of cross country being the faster runner on my team, fourth in our conference, and sixth in the region. I never ran cross country or track before that season in 10th grade, but after the track coach contacted me asking if I was willing to run, I agreed. I played basketball and ran indoor track but eventually I stopped playing basketball.
I really did not idolize any track athletes growing up because I did not know about track. I was exposed to basketball athletes as a child, so growing up, I watched Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, and Lebron James.
Q: What was your favorite memory from running track & field at Coppin State?
When I ran my PR in the 800m and won the 1500m on my birthday last outdoor season. That memory showed me that I could run if I put my mind into actually wanting to compete.
Q: Is there anything that you have learned so far in regards to this global epidemic with COVID-19 and will it cause you to change anything in your life?
From this pandemic, I learned to not take anything for granted and don't expect anything. I was expecting to run next week to open my outdoor season for my senior year, but the season is cancelled.
Q: What are songs that are on your Quarantine Playlist?
Chance the Rapper: How Great
Fred Hammond: No Weapon
Tori Kelly: Never Alone
Q: The NCAA Committee is recommending that eligibility relief be provided to all student-athletes who participate in spring sports. What would getting an extra year to run track mean to you?
Honestly, the opportunity means everything to me. For the past couple months, I've been pouring my heart into track, so I want to give this last year (season) my all, and leave a legacy. Plus, I want my accomplishments to influence the woman's track program and to motivate them to try to achieve higher.