Katie Gwyther
Sport: Cross Country
Class: Senior
Hometown: Madison, N.H.
Major: Health Sciences

Gwyther proved that the world of northeast long-distance running once again belonged to her after a first-place finish at the New England Championships in Boston on Oct. 8. The five-time conference champion clocked a time of 16:54, finishing entire 36 seconds before Harvard standout Lindsey Scherf, who crossed the finish line in second.

This makes Gwyther the first athlete in the program’s history to finish first overall at this event, which included 43 teams and some of the nation’s elite runners. The achievement adds a dose of confidence to the senior whose apparently forgotten how to lose this year. Gwyther is once again putting together a season for the record books as she has won three major meets – the Red Flash Invite, QU Invitational, and now the New England Championships.

Gwyther will look to repeat as the individual champion of the Northeast Conference this weekend at the NEC championships. The NECs will take place at St. Francis’ (PA) home course.

Last year, the Bobcats fell just two points short of the championship to St. Francis (PA). But this has given them fire and motivation to work harder this season, Gwyther would say.

Gwyther expects the team to return the favor (to the Red Flash) at conferences and she feels the team has the potential to go far.

“Our main goal is to win conferences, but we’re looking beyond that this year,” she said.

For Gwyther, a top-ten finish at nationals isn’t far-fetched at this point.