Courtesy of Sean Elliot
Camel of the Edition is a series that seeks to highlight extraordinary Connecticut College athletes who have stood out from the herd due to their recent performances or as a leader on campus or on their team.
Being a college athlete is hard. At Connecticut College, students balance athletics, challenging academics, extracurriculars, and the daily challenges of being a college student. Kiera Tallas ‘27 has learned how to manage that stress over her time on the cross country and track teams, leaning on her teammates and coaches for support when she needs it. The native of Fountain Valley, CA excels on the oval, improving every day that she laces up her shoes. Tallas attributes much of her success to her mindset outside of practice and competition, and says that balance is key to success in any endeavor. Last season, Tallas qualified individually for the NCAA DIII National Championships in the 3000m steeplechase and earned Second-Team All-American Honors. Currently, the distance runner has the eighth fastest time in the nation in the 3000m steeplechase and earned first-team All-NESCAC and first-team All-New England honors in multiple events.
Recently, The College Voice caught up with Tallas to ask about her growth as an athlete, why her mindset around the sport has changed, and how she’s preparing for the upcoming NCAA Championship.
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Kiera Tallas. I am a junior. I’m studying neuroscience and psychology and I’m in the Public Health Pathway.
How did you start your running career and what was your experience before college?
I started running for fun in middle school because everyone told me I was fast and I should run. Then in high school, I joined cross country and track, and just found a love for it then—just running with other people. It really cleared my mind. And it’s just such a simple sport, but also complex in many ways. I think I like that dual aspect of duality. Yeah, I think in high school, I was training a lot less because I was also playing hockey. And. I know that my coach was just starting out when I was a sophomore, so she definitely wasn’t as experienced as Ned. But I definitely wasn’t as fast in high school. I think that time grew with different training. I definitely was focused more on hockey in high school, so I didn’t care that much about running in high school. And I just saw it as more like a way to be with my friends.
As a sophomore, you finished 120th at the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships and 13th at outdoor nationals in the steeplechase, one spot short of making the final. This year, you finished 56th in cross country and are currently seeded 8th heading into NCAAs. How have you made such a large jump from last year to this year?
In terms of the steeplechase, I think that going from last year to this year, [Coach] Ned [Bishop] has been working really hard to improve our hurdle capabilities. We’ve been doing a lot more workouts with hurdles, which I think has really benefited just having more experience going over them. I think that has contributed to my success in the steeple chase this year so far. I think the past few years, I’ve been a lot more in the sport mentally, and I think that having that dedication has really helped improve my times and my consistency with how much I’m training. I know that every single thing that Ned has me do workout-wise, whether it be lifting or hurdle drills, will benefit me in the future. And I think having that mindset really just has helped me succeed the past few years.
You also play for the club hockey team here—something that’s often frowned upon by coaches of varsity athletes. Have you been able to balance both sports?
So, in some ways, yes, but I also think that having club hockey has made me realize that not everything is about running. I’m able to have fun in other ways, just care less about running in a way, and not put so much pressure on myself. I still played the day after Silfen [Invitational]. I think it’s hard for us to remember that sometimes, just because we train every single day, like, and we only get a break at the end of outdoor, really. Even when you have, like, a bad workout, sometimes it’s hard to believe that you’re still gonna do well in the future, but that balance is key. Surprisingly, I’ve been able to balance school, too. I’m taking 24 credits this semester. But I feel like this has been my easiest semester thus far, so I feel like I’m not juggling everything to be honest, which has helped me focus more on running in a way. But next semester will probably be my hardest semester ever, so that’ll be a different story. I’m in the Senior Reflection for Public Health [Pathway], I’m in like three bio classes, I’m even taking floorball which is some kind of Swedish sport. Sometimes it’s good to take your mind off running. You have to keep busy.
The NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships are on May 21-23 where you’re currently ranked to run the steeplechase. How are you preparing for the races and what is your mindset heading into the next few weeks?
Like you said, I’m in a very different position this year. Last year, I literally was the last one to make it in the meet. I think last year I was just grateful to be there. So now this year, obviously, I think I want to make more of a statement and prove that I deserve to be there. So these next few weeks, I’m really just trying to further develop my hurdle skills and just be more consistent there. But also just gain more confidence and truly believe in myself. Not that I don’t, but, like, I feel like it never helps to keep saying that to yourself and repeating it—that I do deserve to be there and I know what I’m capable of and I know that I’m capable of doing well at Nationals making it to the final this year, considering I was so close last year. But again, I don’t want to put that much pressure on myself so it’s really up in the air. I think having successful workouts really helped me build my confidence and make me realize that I’m capable of running faster. I know that I can do this, and I sort of like to repeat that stuff to myself often. Every single day, I know that I can do better. Even if I don’t fully believe it, I’ll still tell myself that because I feel like it can trick your brain into believing that. These next two weeks, I think I’m trying to stay off TFRRS and not let the rankings get to my head. Because going in, I feel like it’s the underdog is a lot easier than going in overconfident. I do like that underdog mentality. I’m trying to just enjoy every race and be grateful that I am at the spot where I’m at. I know that injuries set people back and you never know what’s going to happen. I’m just grateful every time I get a step on the line and race.
The women’s cross country and track team has been very successful since you’ve been at Conn. Has the team culture played a role in that success?
Yeah, I’m very grateful to have teammates that are uplifting. Every time we’re out on the track, they’ll be cheering us on or what not. And definitely having steeplechase partners like my teammates are amazing. Doing the water barrier with them—every time I learn from them because I know I’m not the best at hurdles. Having Grace [McDonough ‘26] and Alexa [Estes ‘26] other people too that are ahead of me to push me. I think that’s super beneficial. Even if I’m not running with them during workouts, I’ll see that and think that’s where I want to be in the future.
Is there anything else you would like to add or people you would like to shout out?
I want to shout out Julia SanGiovanni, my club hockey coach, because she is so kind. She’s actually gonna be at my 5K later tonight at the [Division III] New England Championship. At Silfen, she was there cheering so loud for me and always supporting me in what I do.
