Overcoming Adversity: Kendahl Tucker's Perseverance a Key to Success

It's a beautiful thing when life goes according to plan.

For UNT sophomore Kendahl Tucker, the plan was simple. Coming off a successful junior season at Burleson Centennial High School that saw her take runner-up in the 400 meters at state, she signed her National Letter of Intent to run track at North Texas and was preparing to excel in her final prep season before transitioning to the college level.

That is when life threw a curveball at her.

"I took off running and on my last step I heard a little snap and knew something wasn't right," Tucker said. "That pain was something different."

A typical summer practice turned into the start of a new journey for the rising senior. Tucker suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon and was faced with an extensive rehab process to be back for track season and the start of her college career.

"It's nerve-wracking when you start to think about wanting to go to college and run, but now you're not able to walk for about six months and have to relearn that before track season," she said. "There were a lot of things going on through my mind that time. I was coming off a great season and then had to go back to square one."

As she began physical therapy and process of getting back on the track, Tucker leaned on her sisters to keep her spirits up. The sport of track and field has always served as a bonding opportunity for the Tucker sisters.

Kendahl began running track at eight years old after seeing her older sister, Jaelyn, participate. Later, she had the opportunity to be on the same team as Jaelyn for a year, and her younger sister, London, for two seasons during her time at Burleson Centennial.

"My sisters knew I was going through a lot with the injury, so they kept a very positive mindset when it came to certain things," Tucker said. "They were supportive of the stuff I couldn't do as well. It was just great to have them be there because being in their presence helped me take my mind off having to wear a boot and walk around in crutches all day."

She arrived on campus in 2022 with the challenge of making the jump to the collegiate level after significant time off the track. She also had the hurdle of getting to know new head coach Doug Marshall and his staff who had been hired in June.

"My freshman year was really good and a solid first year for both me and the staff," Tucker said. "It was a year of learning each other and working with coach (Shellene) Williams. It was a time where they got to learn about us as athletes and we got to learn about them as coaches. I think that one year together opened our eyes to seeing that we built the foundation for what we're doing here."

In her first collegiate season, Tucker showed exciting promise as a sprinter. She had multiple top-five finishes in the 400 meters and earned all-conference honors as a member of the women's 4x400-meter relay team that placed third at the 2023 Conference USA Outdoor Championships.

The progress Tucker made from the time she got to UNT to where she finished her true freshman season made an impression on Marshall. It also allowed her to compete this season with a newfound confidence in herself.

"Last year was a really big year for her to get her confidence back in training and getting back in shape after having so much time off," Marshall said. "This year I can see her growing into herself. She has that confidence back and her performances have consistently gotten better throughout the year."

Being two years removed from the Achilles injury has played a large role in Tucker's success this season, but so has the addition of a familiar face to the program.

Her sister Jaelyn transferred to North Texas before the 2023-24 season after spending four seasons at Little Rock. The Tucker sisters are making the most of their last chance to share the track again as Jaelyn finishes up her final season of eligibility this May.

"It's a little bittersweet," Kendahl said. "I remember when we were just high schoolers doing this and now we're in college doing the same thing. It will be sad to see my sister go, but I'm proud of her for the things she's gone through and what she has overcome to get here. Being able to finish out her career at her dream school, I couldn't be happier I get to share it with her."

Kendahl (L) and Jaelyn (R) pose together at UNT's content day prior to the season

Everything seemed to be back on track for Kendahl in her sophomore year until she received scary news about her health.

During the indoor season, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.

"That's obviously made me make a lot of changes in my diet and watch how I do things now, but I don't let that stop me or lay in front of me as a barrier," Tucker said. "I think God has a plan for everything, so I know I have to put in in his hands and keep going."

After overcoming her Achilles injury, the diagnosis has given Tucker another challenge that not only affects her physically, but mentally. Like she has throughout her career, however, she has not let that stop her from reaching her goals.

"I could tell that was a big speed bump for her that came up this year," Marshall said. "It has been hard on her just in the day-to-day routines. I can see somedays that she's great and other days she's really thinking. I think the way she has handled it and navigated that challenge shows a lot about her perseverance."

Despite the circumstances she faces, Tucker has continued to perform at a high level for the Mean Green with an individual win this season and a personal best time of 54.70 in the 400 meters in her most recent outing at the Michael Johnson Invitational.

On top of it all she remains an integral piece to UNT's team and an athlete many inside the program look up to, including her older sister, who was the main reason Kendahl began running track in the first place.

"I'm always proud of her in everything she does," Jaelyn Tucker said. "She's like a role model to me too. I'm battling my own stuff, but I look at her and what she's gotten through to inspire me."

Kendahl's next challenge will be the upcoming American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships. After finishing fifth in the 400 meters at last year's outdoor meet and seventh at this year's indoor conference meet, Tucker is focused on improving her placement and setting a personal best for the second consecutive meet.

The obstacles she has already overcome and continues to persevere through give her head coach confidence she is going to make a statement when she steps on the track this weekend.

"I think she will have a chance to go in and prove to everyone who she is and how talented she is," Marshall said. "I think she is in line for a big PR because of the work she puts in and what she has done and gone through to be at her best."

Whether or not the results are up to her standards after she crosses the finish line, Tucker has already proven to be a winner and a warrior in life. The adversity she has faced beginning in high school to now are obstacles she has overcome and will continue to run through with the assistance of her family and faith.

"I've gone through a major battle this season and it's been something that affected me personally. Some things you have to put in God's hands and just persevere through it."

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