Tatiana Cornejo has been running since age six, but her love for the sport has only grown stronger with time. Now in a fifth year at Cal Poly, the veteran distance runner has become a cornerstone of the Mustangs’ cross country program — not just for the talent displayed on the course, but for the mental strength and perspective built along the way, mile by mile. 

  

“Running is just something I truly love to do,” Cornejo said. “Whenever I take a break, I’m eager to get back into it. I’ve just been truly in love with the sport and getting after it.” 

  

A competitive fire has driven Cornejo since childhood, but joy found in the day-to-day grind — the workouts, the miles, the camaraderie — keeps the Elk Grove, Calif. native coming back. “I love the competitive atmosphere and being able to put myself in the best position to do as best as I can,” Cornejo reflected. “Pushing myself to be the best version of myself is one of the parts I really enjoy the most. 

  

Cornejo’s impact at Cal Poly was immediate. Earning 2023 Big West Cross Country Freshman of the Year honors signaled what would become a decorated collegiate career. But the leap from high school standout to NCAA competitor came with a learning curve. 

  

“You definitely think you’re the big dog graduating high school, and then you enter college and realize you’re just this really young freshman who doesn’t know what’s going on,” Cornejo said. 

  

The biggest adjustment was recognizing how many athletes at the collegiate level were just as talented — if not more so — and learning how to train and compete at a higher intensity. “It was a shift in workouts and mileage, and just learning how to compete as a collegiate athlete,” Cornejo said. “With time, you learn to adapt, become independent, and gain your own confidence.” 

  

Now, years later, Cornejo has grown into a leader for the Mustangs — someone who has learned to balance ambition with perspective, and who understands what it takes to succeed at the highest level of college running. 

Cornejo has two top-10 individual finishes at The Big West Cross Country Championships, coming in seventh in 2023 and fifth in 2024. On the track, the Elk Grove, Calif. product is a two-time conference champion in the 1500m event.  

  

While Cornejo's physical abilities have steadily improved as a collegian, the biggest transformation as a distance runner isn't as easily seen in the eye of the beholder. 

  

“Physically, you keep getting stronger and build endurance, but for me, the biggest change was mental,” Cornejo said. “There were a lot of blockages in my collegiate career, and I’ve been able to work through them by talking to people and journaling.” 

  

Cornejo learned to stop tying self-worth to results and started focusing on the love of running. “You put a lot of pressure on yourself as an athlete, thinking your performance is the end all be all,” the Mustang fifth-year student-athlete said. “But you have to remember that you love what you’re doing and keep that as your main focus.” 

  

That mindset shift paid off in a big way at the Lakefront Invitational in Chicago, where Cornejo ran a lifetime best and took more than 40 seconds off the previous top 6K mark. “Going into the race, I didn’t have any high expectations,” she said. “Coach Delaney [Rasmussen] told me, ‘I think you can be at the front,’ so I told myself, ‘Okay, that’s where I’ll place myself and see what happens.’” 

  

Cornejo didn’t even know her previous 6K personal best before the season — a sign of how little attention she was giving to numbers and times. “I try not to focus on times and place,” Cornejo said. “If I put too much attention into that, I’m focusing on the wrong things. I need to put my best foot forward, stay competitive, and have the confidence to do well.” 

  

That breakthrough race in Chicago was about more than a fast time. It was a culmination of months of mental work and a reminder of why she runs. 

  

“My parents were there, and it was my first cross country race in almost two years,” Cornejo said. “At the line, I got a little emotional. I told one of my teammates, ‘I lowkey think I might cry right now.’ It was my last, first really big cross country meet, and I just soaked it all up.” 

  

Cornejo said the biggest improvement this season has been staying composed in races — especially during long stretches running alone. “It’s been a big mental thing to tell myself, ‘You are fit enough,’” Cornejo said. “I’ve built this confidence in my training and I trust my coaches and my team. If you don’t have confidence, you’re not going to be able to push yourself.” 

  

Cornejo relies on affirmations to stay locked in when the race gets tough. “I tell myself, ‘You’re strong enough, you’ve put in the work, you’re meant to be here,’” the native Northern Californian said. “When I start to feel it, I break it down. I’ll tell myself, ‘You only have 1K left — that’s one rep in a workout. You’ve done this before.’” 

  

That ability to stay present has also helped with finishing stronger. “I’ve been able to really work on my kick,” Cornejo said. “It may not be that fast, but it feels fast in the moment.” 

  

Cornejo’s training week is built around consistency and listening to her body. “For us, it’s a lot of stacking miles,” the fifth-year Mustang runner said. “We have two workouts a week — one tempo or threshold day, and sometimes a track workout or turf loops. The rest is mileage.” 

  

The biggest change in approach has been learning when to push and when to ease off. “I’ve really listened to my body this year,” Cornejo said. “When I was younger, I’d always think I had to hit a certain pace. Now, if I want to go 7:40, I’ll go 7:40. I’m paying attention to what my body needs and not putting unnecessary stress on it.” 

  

That balance — knowing when to press and when to be patient — has helped with staying healthy and consistent as the postseason approaches, beginning with the 2026 Big West Championship this Saturday. 

  

Cornejo has competed on some of the biggest stages in college running, including the NCAA Championships, but she tries not to let those moments define her. 

  

“Those meets are a big confidence booster, but I try not to focus on them too much,” Cornejo reflected. “I get imposter syndrome sometimes, but I remind myself, ‘You’re meant to be here. You got here because you worked hard.’” 

  

For Cornejo, cross country is as much about the team as it is about individual success. “I try to put the team first,” Cornejo said. “If I’m doing well in a race, I’m doing well for them. These girls are like my second family. You work out with them every day, and they motivate you to keep going.” 

  

That team-first mentality has helped fuel one of the most impressive streaks in The Big West. Cal Poly has won four consecutive women’s cross country championships — a standard Cornejo is proud to uphold. 

  

“I’ve been so lucky and fortunate to be part of this program for so long and watch it grow,” the Cal Poly business administration major said. “Being part of the first team that started the streak was special. We still have that same energy, and I believe the girls can get it done again. They’re strong, and I see it in workouts. I think we can hopefully do it another year.” 

  

With a final season in progress at Cal Poly, Cornejo is running with gratitude, purpose, and a deep love for the sport that has shaped her life. The miles have made her stronger, but it’s the mindset built along the way that truly sets her apart as the leader of the pack. 

The 2026 Big West Cross Country Championships will be held on Saturday, October 31, at UC Riverside’s Ag/Ops Course, where 11 men’s and 12 women’s teams will race for a pair of Big West titles.  

  

The men’s 8K gets underway at 8:30 a.m., followed by the women’s 6K at 9:15 a.m.  

  

General admission tickets are available HERE for $12 in advance or $14 on race day. Big West students are FREE with a valid student ID