JACKSONVILLE, Florida – Recent Marist graduate Michelle Gaye became the first Marist women's track & field athlete to compete at NCAA Regionals on Thursday night.
In the 10,000-meter run, Gaye placed 25th out of 48 runners in the East Region with a time of 35:13.64 at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida. The top 12 runners in both the East and West Regions advanced to the NCAA Championships.
Five days earlier, at Marist's graduation, Gaye said she began to feel the effects of a head cold, which lingered into Thursday's race – and very nearly caused her to not reach the finish line.
Around the 10th lap, which was just over one-third of the way through, Gaye said she was having trouble breathing and considered dropping out of the race.
“My first instinct was to panic,” Gaye said. “(Director of Cross Country/Track & Field) Pete (Colaizzo) told me to relax. I just decided to stay in it. I wanted to do it for Marist, and I knew it was my last race for Marist.”
Gaye was able to recover and pass runners down the stretch to place 25th. Once the grueling race was complete, she reflected on what her collegiate career meant.
“It shaped who I am as a person,” Gaye said. “I met my best friends, and I met lifelong mentors. I felt so much support from people I didn't even know knew me.
“This last season, it became less about me, and more about representing Marist and giving back.”
Gaye departs Marist as the school record holder in the 3K and 5K indoors, as well as the 5K and 10K outdoors. In cross country, she became the program's first individual ECAC champion, and the first to finish in the top 10 of the MAAC Championships four times. Gaye was named Marist Female Sportsperson of the Year at this year's Senior Awards banquet, and was named CoSIDA/Capital One First Team Academic All-District earlier this month.
“She's the best distance runner we've ever had, for her to come on the big stage and battle like she did is a fitting end to wonderful career,” Colaizzo said. “I couldn't be more proud of her.”
