Photo by: Rob Rasmussen / P8Photos.com
Quinnipiac Alumni: Where Are They Now? | Katie Gwyther Driscoll ‘05
1/28/2021 1:53:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
Gwyther Driscoll named to the NEC's 40th Anniversary Mount Rushmore
Special from Quinnipiac Athletics
As Katie Gwyther Driscoll approached the final hill at the Terre haute Cross Country course, she was greeted by a sea of bright gold jackets as her teammates huddled together to cheer her on through the final meters of the NCAA Cross Country Championship. The year is 2005, and Gwyther Driscoll finished in 12th place at the NCAAs, which is still the best finish for Quinnipiac cross country ever
Gwyther Driscoll is one of the most decorated student-athletes in Quinnipiac athletics history and credits her incredible run at the NCAA Cross Country Championship meet and stellar career to her teammates and coaches.
"I remember cresting the hill by myself coming up to where the finish line would be," Gwyther Driscoll said. "This crew of 15-20 of my teammates, all in these bright yellow jackets, came streaming out and running out to meet me. That was just a game changer for me."
Not only did Gwyther Driscoll's teammates show up to cheer her on at NCAAs, but they also all took the road trip out to Indiana together and surprised her and the coaching staff. The team loved cheering each other on and seeing Gwyther Driscoll run at NCAAs was something they could not miss.
Gwyther Driscoll was a two-time NEC Individual Champion (2004-2005), would run in three NCAA Championship meets, and was named an All-American in 2005. She was the first female Division I All-American in any sport for Quinnipiac and was named the school's 2004-05 Athlete of the Year. Later in 2006, she was named an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American.
Gwyther Driscoll led the Bobcats to the team's first-ever NEC title in 2005. She was the first Quinnipiac athlete to ever win the New England Championships and went onto the NCAA Championship meet the same season. Her list of accolades shines as she still stands as one of the best to wear a Quinnipiac uniform.
She remarks on her time at Quinnipiac and remembers the NCAA Championship meet as one of her fondest memories and races.
"The energy was phrenetic," Gwyther Driscoll explained. "You got caught up in it. I probably have never been so present in a race. There were constantly other competitors around you. You were in a tunnel of cheering, and I had some awesome spectators there with me."
The NCAAs symbolized the culmination of four years of hard work, injuries, rehab, mental toughness and heart for Gwyther Driscoll. Not only did her teammates push her to become one of the best, but the coaching staff during her time helped her immensely along the way. Shawn Green, who was the head cross country and track & field coach at the time, saw something special in Gwyther Driscoll when he recruited her. He was able to coach her amidst many injuries and setbacks, but eventually, he found the right training plans and strategies that would help Gwyther Driscoll excel.
In addition to the leadership from Green, current head coach Carolyn Martin had just joined the staff and helped Gwyther Driscoll during her senior year, as well. When preparing to run in a national championship meet with all of the top runners in the country, Gwyther Driscoll remembers feeling anxious the night before, but Martin was there to ease the uncertainty and nerves and help her have a stellar race the next day.
"She [Martin] was incredible as a support for me at that time," Gwyther Driscoll remembers. "I was just like 'I can't be here…how am I racing with these girls? I don't belong here.' She let me voice those fears and stress."
The tight-knit team and coaching staff at the time proved to be one of the safe havens for Gwyther Driscoll as she prepared for the biggest race of her career. A strong support group around Gwyther Driscoll was one of her favorite parts about being a student-athlete at Quinnipiac.
"One of the greatest things that Quinnipiac gave me is that I still have those friendships and relationships," Gwyther Driscoll said. "I had a very positive student-athlete experience and loved being a part of that community. I am still in touch with many people from that class and team."
Gwyther Driscoll went on to complete her athletic eligibility and start graduate school at the University of Michigan. She was most recently added to the NEC's 40th Anniversary Mount Rushmore as one of the best athletes to compete in the sport for the conference. Four student-athletes from each of the NEC's sports were selected as the faces of the Mount Rushmore by a panel based on athletic accomplishments at the conference and national level.
Gwyther Driscoll still runs frequently and is part of a local running team in North Carolina called the Asheville Running Collective. She is married to a former Quinnipiac men's cross country runner, Mark Driscoll, and the couple has one child with another on the way.
She is a public health nurse and says she has stayed busy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Driscoll family is looking forward to visiting with family and friends and taking a running trip out to the Grand Canyon once it is safe to do so.
As Katie Gwyther Driscoll approached the final hill at the Terre haute Cross Country course, she was greeted by a sea of bright gold jackets as her teammates huddled together to cheer her on through the final meters of the NCAA Cross Country Championship. The year is 2005, and Gwyther Driscoll finished in 12th place at the NCAAs, which is still the best finish for Quinnipiac cross country ever
Gwyther Driscoll is one of the most decorated student-athletes in Quinnipiac athletics history and credits her incredible run at the NCAA Cross Country Championship meet and stellar career to her teammates and coaches.
"I remember cresting the hill by myself coming up to where the finish line would be," Gwyther Driscoll said. "This crew of 15-20 of my teammates, all in these bright yellow jackets, came streaming out and running out to meet me. That was just a game changer for me."
Not only did Gwyther Driscoll's teammates show up to cheer her on at NCAAs, but they also all took the road trip out to Indiana together and surprised her and the coaching staff. The team loved cheering each other on and seeing Gwyther Driscoll run at NCAAs was something they could not miss.
Gwyther Driscoll was a two-time NEC Individual Champion (2004-2005), would run in three NCAA Championship meets, and was named an All-American in 2005. She was the first female Division I All-American in any sport for Quinnipiac and was named the school's 2004-05 Athlete of the Year. Later in 2006, she was named an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American.
Gwyther Driscoll led the Bobcats to the team's first-ever NEC title in 2005. She was the first Quinnipiac athlete to ever win the New England Championships and went onto the NCAA Championship meet the same season. Her list of accolades shines as she still stands as one of the best to wear a Quinnipiac uniform.
She remarks on her time at Quinnipiac and remembers the NCAA Championship meet as one of her fondest memories and races.
"The energy was phrenetic," Gwyther Driscoll explained. "You got caught up in it. I probably have never been so present in a race. There were constantly other competitors around you. You were in a tunnel of cheering, and I had some awesome spectators there with me."
The NCAAs symbolized the culmination of four years of hard work, injuries, rehab, mental toughness and heart for Gwyther Driscoll. Not only did her teammates push her to become one of the best, but the coaching staff during her time helped her immensely along the way. Shawn Green, who was the head cross country and track & field coach at the time, saw something special in Gwyther Driscoll when he recruited her. He was able to coach her amidst many injuries and setbacks, but eventually, he found the right training plans and strategies that would help Gwyther Driscoll excel.
In addition to the leadership from Green, current head coach Carolyn Martin had just joined the staff and helped Gwyther Driscoll during her senior year, as well. When preparing to run in a national championship meet with all of the top runners in the country, Gwyther Driscoll remembers feeling anxious the night before, but Martin was there to ease the uncertainty and nerves and help her have a stellar race the next day.
"She [Martin] was incredible as a support for me at that time," Gwyther Driscoll remembers. "I was just like 'I can't be here…how am I racing with these girls? I don't belong here.' She let me voice those fears and stress."
The tight-knit team and coaching staff at the time proved to be one of the safe havens for Gwyther Driscoll as she prepared for the biggest race of her career. A strong support group around Gwyther Driscoll was one of her favorite parts about being a student-athlete at Quinnipiac.
"One of the greatest things that Quinnipiac gave me is that I still have those friendships and relationships," Gwyther Driscoll said. "I had a very positive student-athlete experience and loved being a part of that community. I am still in touch with many people from that class and team."
Gwyther Driscoll went on to complete her athletic eligibility and start graduate school at the University of Michigan. She was most recently added to the NEC's 40th Anniversary Mount Rushmore as one of the best athletes to compete in the sport for the conference. Four student-athletes from each of the NEC's sports were selected as the faces of the Mount Rushmore by a panel based on athletic accomplishments at the conference and national level.
Gwyther Driscoll still runs frequently and is part of a local running team in North Carolina called the Asheville Running Collective. She is married to a former Quinnipiac men's cross country runner, Mark Driscoll, and the couple has one child with another on the way.
She is a public health nurse and says she has stayed busy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Driscoll family is looking forward to visiting with family and friends and taking a running trip out to the Grand Canyon once it is safe to do so.
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