Rosemary Gaydos
Norwin
12
Favorite XC Course: Blue Devil Invitational

What do you enjoy most about cross-country?
I love spending a few hours a day training with my best friends towards a common goal.  Also being able to see the progress you make through the season by the hard work you put in.

Do you have a favorite cross-country memory or race?
When our team won the county title we had been working toward all season and we could celebrate together. 

What are your goals for this cross-country season?
My main goal individually is to qualify and compete in the PIAA State meet and my team goals include being Section Champs and County Champs.

What is your favorite cross-country workout or training session?
I love doing hard workouts like 1000 repeats or tempo/threshold workout.  Even though it’s hard while doing it, I always feel accomplished afterwards and it motivates me a lot.

How has cross-country running impacted your life outside the sport?
The time management runners need to have helped a lot with most things outside of cross country.  As athletes wanting to perform well, we need to make time to get our work done while maintaining a healthy sleep schedule.

What is your favorite running quote?
“God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” -Eric Liddell

Do you have any pre-race rituals or superstitions that you follow for good luck or to get in the right mindset?
Yes, our girls’ team has a team prayer as our chant before each race.  It helps us focus for the race while also getting us hyped up and ready to compete for each other.

As Rosemary embarks on her senior year, she steps into the role of guiding the Norwin Knights’ girls’ cross-country team. After clocking a remarkable 17-second improvement in her personal record at the Knight Under the Lights 3k event, she’s maintaining her impressive form from the previous year in 2022. Her goals for this cross-country season are clear: break the elusive 20-minute barrier, secure a spot within the top 25 at the WPIAL finals, and qualify for the prestigious PIAA championships. Rosemary’s determination and dedication shine through as she strives for excellence in her final high school cross-country campaign.