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Academics over athletics leads Gerber to WU

By Brendan Keany staff Writer 4 min read

“I started running during seventh grade track season, and that was the first time I ran competitively,” said Waynesburg freshman cross-country runner Julie Gerber. “I didn’t even know what cross-country was until 8th grade.”

Much to the delight of the Waynesburg women’s cross country program, and much to the dismay of other schools in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, the freshman sensation Gerber discovered her talent in distance running. A successful high school running career saw to her recruitment as a collegiate athlete, and as fortune would have it, she chose Waynesburg as her destination.

“I was pretty set on going to Pitt,” said Gerber. “But this team [Waynesburg] was a lot like my high school team. Everybody was a family.”

Also a major factor that drew much of Gerber’s attention lies in the esteemed Waynesburg University nursing program. Pursuing a career in nursing relatively close to her home represented a pleasing scenario for Gerber.

“As of now, I would like to work in pediatrics,” said Gerber. “I know Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, and I think working there would be something I would be very interested in doing out of college.”

With the semester nearly halfway completed, Gerber reflected on the decision that brought her to Waynesburg, and as of now, she describes her feelings toward the school as contentment. This feeling comes as a relief to the cross-country star, who portrayed her initial opinions of beginning college life as apprehensive.

“I didn’t really know what to expect coming into college,” said Gerber. “It wasn’t like I was not looking forward to it, but I was just kind of happy with where I was, and I don’t like change at all. It was kind of hard for me during camp week getting adjusted to everything, but I actually love it. I’m glad that I came here.”

As a woman who hails from Uniontown, Pennsylvania with a quieter personality, it is understandable as to why a smaller school setting and family atmosphere would be appealing. However, that personality quickly changes when it comes to competition on race day for Gerber. Known as a competitor who fights for every possible spot, she undergoes a personality transformation while on the cross-country course.

“Whenever we get to wherever we are running the meet, my mentality just changes,” said Gerber. “My body just takes over and prepares me, and I get into a zone.”

That “zone” contributed to one of the more impressive string of races ever built by a Waynesburg cross-country athlete. Gerber’s first four collegiate races resulted in a first place finish at Westminster, three Eastern College Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week awards, and three PAC Runner of the Week awards. Gerber possesses a significant collection of hardware, despite the fact that slightly less than half of the season remains.

Although she expresses excitement regarding the beginning of her career as a Yellow Jacket, Gerber understands the larger goals at stake, and she realizes her desire to win as a team, this season and beyond.

“Individually, my goal is to win the PAC championship,” said Gerber. “As a team, I really want us to win. I think we definitely can. If we do win this year, I feel like it will be easier to accomplish for the next four years.”

Gerber, and the rest of the women’s cross-country team return to action Saturday in the annual Homecoming five-kilometer race. The women travel to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania next Friday to complete a service project on one of the battlefields, and they will also participate in the Gettysburg Invitational the next day.

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