I Tried Division One Tennis as a D1 Track Runner — Here Is What Happened

I have never played Division One Tennis in my life. I run track and field — that is what I do. But I wanted to find out just how different Division One Tennis really is compared to track, so I linked up with LSU tennis player Gaby Rivera to switch sports for a day. She taught me everything about tennis, and then I brought her to the track to try running, jumping, and hurdling. Here is how it went.

Getting a Crash Course in Division One Tennis

Gaby met me at the LSU tennis facility, and right away I could tell this was going to be humbling. She started with the basics — how to hold the racket, how to position my body, and how to actually hit the ball. Despite how I may look, I had zero experience with tennis. My grip felt awkward, my footwork was all wrong, and the timing was completely different from anything I am used to in track.

One of the first things I noticed is how much hand-eye coordination tennis demands. In running, your body moves in a straight line. In tennis, you have to read the ball, adjust your positioning, and time your swing all within a fraction of a second. Gaby made it look effortless. I was just trying not to whiff completely.

Attempting to Play a Real Match

After the basics, we played some points. Gaby walked me through serving — which is way harder than it looks. The motion is completely unnatural if you have never done it before, and I was sending balls everywhere except where they were supposed to go. She was incredibly patient, coaching me through every serve and every rally.

We played a few games, and to nobody’s surprise, she dominated. The score was lopsided, but I actually managed to get a few points in. The competitive side of me did not love losing, but the experience itself was a blast. Tennis is genuinely a fun sport, and I have so much more respect for what these athletes do after trying it myself. The lateral movement, the explosiveness, the mental game — it is a completely different kind of athleticism than distance running.

Bringing Gaby to the Track

Then it was my turn to be the coach. I brought Gaby over to the track to try some of the things I do every day. We started with some running — just a few laps to get the feel of the track surface. She is obviously an athlete, so the baseline fitness was there, but running on a track is a different experience when you are used to moving laterally on a court.

Next, I had her try hurdles. This is where things got entertaining. Hurdling looks intimidating even for people who do it regularly, and for someone who has never approached a hurdle before, it is even scarier. Gaby gave it her all though. The first few attempts were cautious, but she started getting more comfortable with each try. The coordination required to clear a hurdle while maintaining speed is something most people do not appreciate until they actually attempt it.

High Jump and Long Jump

We also tried high jump and long jump. The high jump was particularly funny because the technique is so counterintuitive — you are supposed to go over the bar backwards, which feels completely wrong if you have never done it. Gaby was a good sport about it, and honestly, she picked it up faster than I expected. Her athleticism translated well, even if the specific skill was brand new.

Long jump was a bit more natural for her since it is basically running and jumping, which are fundamental athletic movements. But the approach run, the takeoff technique, and the landing in the pit all have specific mechanics that take time to learn. At this rate, I think she would improve quickly if she ever decided to cross-train in track events.

This was not my first time switching sports with another D1 athlete. Check out what happened when a D1 runner tried diving.

What I Learned from Division One Tennis

The biggest takeaway from this experience is that every Division 1 sport is incredibly difficult in its own way. I walked into the tennis facility thinking my general fitness would carry me, and while it helped, it was nowhere near enough to compete at the D1 level. The sport-specific skills, reaction time, and tactical awareness that tennis demands are on a completely different level.

At the same time, watching Gaby try track events reminded me that the things we do every day in practice — things that feel routine to us — are genuinely hard for someone experiencing them for the first time. It gave me a renewed appreciation for the training and dedication that goes into any sport at this level.

If you want to see me try another D1 sport, let me know in the comments which one I should do next.