Behind the Jersey with Gabby Crosswhite

Published on Jan 13 2026

Among the top collegiate cross-country runners, Gabby Crosswhite toed the line at the State Championships in California in November, knowing this was a moment she would carry with her for the rest of her life.

The Fortuna native, daughter, and sister, has learned to trust herself and her training, and what she’s prepared for all season. “The last month of the season is where I felt everything come together. My training was going smoothly. I was hitting my mileage, and running just felt fun.”

And the trust paid off on the State’s biggest stage where Crosswhite embraced the challenge, raced with confidence and delivered the strongest performance of her season, finishing number seventy-three out of one hundred and sixty-nine runners.

“…the best moment was that final 100m where everyone was cheering, and I saw my PR (persona record) as I crossed the finish line.” Crosswhite continues, “It just goes to show that all the work I put in this season has been paying off and I’m excited to see where I’ll go with track.”

Not only did she PR at State, but she also set a personal record at regionals, a feat that is rare. Crosswhite credits Coach Reed Elmore’s training plan for helping her be ready for the season’s biggest races. “Just following Coach Reed’s training plan by getting my mileage up throughout the season helped me be well prepared for the last race.”

Crosswhite credits her team and coaches for their support. “All my coaches have been amazing supporters, not just as athletes but also they care about us as individuals, and I think that makes a huge difference in how we all show up to practice and commit to the training.”

Looking ahead, she hopes to continue improving on the track while pursuing a career in sonography. “I’d love to just continue to hit PR’s, but also just keep my love for running as well.”

 One thing is clear: her journey as a collegiate runner is far from finished.