Cross Country

Friday Focus with Callie Gorman

TOWSON, Md. – Every Friday, the Landmark Conference spotlights one of our standout student-athletes in the Friday Focus series. This week’s feature highlights Callie Gorman, a junior on the University of Scranton women’s cross country team. From pre-race rituals to the team traditions that keep her motivated, Callie shares what makes her Royals experience unforgettable.

Favorite pregame routine or superstition?
I always put my hair in space buns for a race. It’s a superstition that it’s my PR hairstyle.

What’s your favorite moment with your team?
My favorite memory with my team is our conference meet during my sophomore year. It was my first time running cross country in my entire life, and getting to experience it with a team of my closest friends made it such a fun experience. The course was beautiful, the weather was good, and it was the first big meet I got to run for the team. I was excited to see where I ranked in the conference and what I was capable of. I ended up getting 10th place and Rookie of the Year. But I think what made it so amazing was that I was able to run without the pressure of performance because of the positive and encouraging team culture we work so hard to cultivate.

How do you stay focused during busy weeks?
I separate academics, being an RA, and being an athlete. At practice, we focus on the workout, the rep, or the run. When I leave practice, I can think about the other things on my plate, but I can compartmentalize those things when needed. And if it’s not a workout day, we all go for an easy run, and we will chat and hash out whatever is on our mind that day.

Who’s a teammate that leads by example?
I think someone who leads our team by example would be Paige Barnett. She is a sophomore on the team this year and works hard to show up at each and every practice. She takes on higher mileage, puts in the extra time in the weight room, and encourages her teammates to work hard with her. Paige is a rising leader on our team and a fundamental part of our team culture. She pushes others to work hard by demonstrating what that looks like, even if she isn’t as outspoken about it.

What does your sport teach you about life?
Running teaches me a lot about the power of perseverance, mental strength, mental stamina, and the rewards of taking the work seriously. The challenge in running is seeing who can handle the most pain and who is willing to go through the most pain to run a few seconds faster. It teaches me how to endure the hard things in life and the importance of pushing through what feels difficult in the moment to reap the benefits that can only come when one reaches the finish line.

Favorite hobby or activity outside of your sport?
I love to bake! I have been told my best includes chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and peanut butter cup cupcakes.

How do you celebrate big wins?
I have a sweet tooth, so my favorite way to celebrate a big win is to go out for ice cream with my teammates.

What will you miss most when your running career ends?
I will really miss getting to go on runs every day with a group of hard-working, dedicated, and like-minded people. I don’t plan to stop running and don’t think I could, but it won’t be the same when I can’t run with my teammates all the time. Especially long runs. Going 14+ miles by myself on a weekend won’t be nearly the same without our conversations and laughs. I will definitely miss that. I can always enter a race, but I won’t always have the same running community.

What’s your favorite part of race day?
I think the best moment on race day is when the gun goes off to start the race. When the gun goes off, the anxiety and stress of everything pre-race immediately melts away, but you aren’t in any pain yet, and it’s too early for there to be any concerns about the outcomes of the race.

First sport you ever played?
The first sport I ever played was soccer. My mom was a soccer player in college, and she wanted me to follow in her footsteps. Ironically, I quit because it was too much running.

Favorite team tradition?
I know this is a common practice, but I really love Secret Psycher. For XC&TF, we write each other inspirational note cards and hand them out prior to each race. Then at conferences, we buy each other our favorite snacks. It also reinforces our team culture by ensuring your hard work is seen by someone on the team.

Favorite moment with fans or family at a meet?
There was a race last year where I was trying to shave 15 or so seconds off of my current PR to qualify for regionals. I had multiple members of the women’s team, men’s team, family, and coaches all cheering and telling me to keep going. I don’t know if I would’ve qualified without all that excitement and encouragement.

Favorite Landmark Conference memory so far?
My favorite memory in the landmark conference so far has been our conference meets. We get on the line ready to compete and run hard, but usually we are cheering for the girls next to us and tell them good luck or exchange our nervous thoughts before a race. It’s really amazing to be in a conference where people can look beyond the competitiveness of the sport and just talk about our nerves, excitement, and wish each other good luck.