Centre College’s Serena McNeilly Is Rewriting the Record Books-and She’s Just Getting Started
Serena McNeilly’s resume already reads like that of a seasoned collegiate star-six-time All-American in just two seasons at Centre College. But if her latest performance is any indication, the junior multi-event standout is just starting to tap into her full potential.
Competing in the pentathlon at Vanderbilt against a field loaded with Division I athletes, McNeilly didn’t just hold her own-she made a statement. She finished fifth overall, set a new school record with 3,560 points, and walked away with a pair of standout performances: a personal-best 18-9 ½ in the long jump (good for second place), and a school-record 5-9 ¼ in the high jump, which won the event outright.
That’s not just a solid day. That’s a breakout performance against elite competition.
“I feel like I’ve grown a lot as an athlete,” McNeilly said. “I know myself more now.
I can recognize what I need to succeed and work with my coaches to get there. I’ve definitely grown in confidence.”
It’s that confidence-earned through two years of high-level competition-that’s helped her settle into her own rhythm. Gone are the days of pre-meet jitters and self-imposed pressure.
“I used to freak out,” she admitted. “I put so much pressure on myself as a freshman.
I thought if I messed up, everyone would be disappointed. But my coaches always reminded me, ‘We’re not disappointed.
We just want you to succeed.’ Once I learned to trust myself, my coaches, and my training, everything changed.”
High Jump or Triple Jump? Depends on the Day
Ask McNeilly what her best event is, and you’ll get a thoughtful pause.
“Every time I think high jump is my best, triple jump comes through,” she said. “It kind of swaps. But right now, high jump is definitely leading.”
That’s not surprising. Her 5-9 ¼ clearance at Vanderbilt was not only a school record, it was a commanding win in a field stacked with top-tier talent. And she wasn’t shocked by the result.
“I kind of knew where those girls were at because I’d competed with them last year,” she said. “It was definitely my goal to win high jump, and I knew I could do it.”
Testing Herself Against Division I Talent
So why take on a meet like Vanderbilt, where the competition is stiffer and the margin for error narrower?
“We did it last year, and it’s great competition,” McNeilly explained. “It’s kind of nerve-wracking to have only one pentathlon meet, but if I messed up in Nashville, I still had our home meet to fall back on.”
Clearly, there was no need for a fallback.
Eyes on Nationals-and Maybe More Than One Event
With her pentathlon score and individual event marks trending upward, McNeilly could find herself in a unique position come NCAA Division III Championships: qualified in multiple events.
“We were already talking about it last year,” she said. “For a while, I was qualified in all four events, but I missed the pentathlon by two spots-ranked 22nd instead of 20th. So I just did the three individual events.”
That may not be the case this year.
“We’re definitely talking about doing all four this year. Pentathlon and long jump would be day one, then high jump and triple jump on day two. I think it’s definitely doable.”
Areas for Growth: Shot Put and the 800
No multi-event athlete is perfect, and McNeilly is the first to point out where she wants to improve-starting with the shot put.
“It’s definitely hard,” she said. “I have no throwing background.
I was a gymnast. But there are a lot of multi athletes in D3 who throw well, and we have similar body types.
I know it’s doable-I just have to figure it out. The biggest thing is explosiveness, and I feel like I have that.”
Then there’s the 800-meter run, a necessary evil in the pentathlon.
“I still don’t like it,” she said with a laugh. “I just suffer through it.
Last year I ran a 2:38, and I started this year with a 2:41. But I think a 2:35 is doable.”
High Jump: A Love-Hate Relationship
Despite her success in the high jump, McNeilly admits it’s the event that gives her the most anxiety.
“My coaches could definitely tell you high jump is the scariest event for me,” she said. “I definitely struggle practicing it sometimes. You wouldn’t think that, but it’s true.”
She’s adjusted her training accordingly-cutting back from two or three sessions a week to just one focused, high-quality session.
“My technique isn’t the worst, so I don’t need to do it all the time,” she said. “Now I just put a lot of focus into doing really good jumps in those 40 minutes. And my confidence helps-it’s not easy to jump if you’re shaking and freaking out.”
Goal-Setting With a Purpose
McNeilly is a goal-setter, but she does it with a twist: one big, almost-unattainable goal, and a series of smaller ones along the way.
“I like having that one big goal that feels out of reach,” she said. “Then I set little goals so I don’t get discouraged. If I get close to the big one, I just move it up.”
That mindset-ambitious but grounded-is paying dividends on the track and in the classroom.
Beyond the Track: A Future in Dentistry
When she’s not racking up points and breaking records, McNeilly is studying biochemistry with plans to pursue a career in dentistry.
“I was always interested in health careers, but we don’t have any in my family,” she said. “I thought about being a doctor, but I really like the hands-on aspect of dentistry.”
It’s a fitting path for someone who thrives on precision, focus, and technical mastery-skills that serve her just as well in the lab as they do on the track.
What’s Next
McNeilly will be back in action this weekend at the Centre Invite, and if her trajectory holds, we may be witnessing one of the most complete multi-event athletes in Division III this season. With confidence growing, records falling, and national qualification within reach, Serena McNeilly isn’t just competing-she’s building something special.