The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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44 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ing recovered from an injury that forced her to miss most of the NCAA outdoor track season this past spring, Gapes hand- ily won the New Zealand women's senior title on Aug. 4, finishing the 10K course in 35:39. She had family and friends cheer- ing her on, but she was so far out in front throughout the race that it ended up being a surprisingly solitary experience. "It becomes very mental when you're alone, not with other bodies," said Gapes, who was just over two minutes ahead of the second-place finisher. "I hadn't really experienced that for a very long time. I haven't experienced it at all in college, so it was an interesting pivot. "I didn't expect to be leading early on, but I trusted my previous racing instincts and pushed as hard as I could while try- ing to leave something for the end. Just having that extra energy, especially in a 10K race, you really have to think about the long game. It was super exciting." Even more exciting is what comes next: an opportunity to compete at the World Athletics Cross Country Champi- onships. Gapes' ultimate distance-run- ning ambition has long been to represent New Zealand at the Olympics, and now she'll get a taste of international com- petition at worlds, which are set to take place Jan. 10 in Tallahassee, Fla. "I'm really proud to be a New Zea- lander and to represent that in the best way I can," Gapes said. "It's a great op- portunity, and it gives me goosebumps to think about it." Another Step In the meantime, there's an NCAA championship to chase at NC State this fall. Gapes is excited about the po- tential of this year's team, noting that the Wolfpack has "some very talented young runners, and a lot of people who are going to step up, and who have ex- perienced the last cross country season and know what to do and how to navi- gate the field." For the New Zealand expat, it's an- other step in a journey that began on the other side of the world. Her arrival in Raleigh was "terrifying and very eye- opening," she recalled. "I truly did not know what to ex- pect. I knew it was a beautiful place, nice weather, amazing coaches, amaz- ing team, but I hadn't overly thought about how much of a culture difference it would be — and you can't know un- til you arrive in the country and you're standing in the middle of the street and you're thinking, oh my goodness, it's an eight-lane highway. I only knew about the two-lane highways. "There was an adjustment period, but I got comfortable. One thing that helped was being in the bubble of NC State ath- letics and the team and coaches who re- ally brought me in and were motherly figures. Having that built-in friendship with the girls, I didn't have to seek out people that I enjoyed being around; they were right there in front of me. I was very fortunate that I landed at a place that I really enjoy being at." ■ Angelina Napoleon Shines For Wolfpack Following a disappointing result at an indoor meet early in her NC State track career, distance runner Angelina Napoleon met up with her parents in a hotel lobby and burst into tears. "I ran a time that I wasn't proud of, and I just told them, 'Don't give up on me. I'm going to make it. I know I will,'" she recalled. "When you have that determination and that will to push your body and your mind, the possibilities are endless. You can reach for the stars." Napoleon has since made good on her pledge. Heading into her junior year, she is one of the fastest-rising stars on the NC State track and cross country teams. A year ago, Napoleon's personal best in the 3,000-meter steeplechase was 9:52. At the Raleigh Relays in March, she finished in 9:34.32. It was an NC State record, and the Al - legany, N.Y., native was just getting warmed up. In May, she claimed an ACC title when she won the steeplechase in a meet-record time of 9:27.85. Then at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in June, she finished in 9:16.66. And later that same month, she shaved nearly six seconds from her personal best at a Diamond League event in Paris, finishing in 9:10.72. It was the fourth- best time ever by a collegiate woman and eighth-best by an American. At the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., in August, she finished second in 9:10.96, earning a trip to the World Athletics Championships Sept. 13-21 in Tokyo. "Coming off of the indoor season, I did make quite a few big jumps," said Napoleon, who also finished 96th overall at last year's NCAA Women's Cross Country Champion - ships. "I definitely think I arrived here a little quicker than expected, but it's part of the game. You've got to keep a good head on your shoulders no matter what time frame it happens in." — Matt Herb Napoleon was NC State's fourth-leading finisher in the NCAA Women's Cross Country Championships last year, but she has made her biggest impact in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS " There was an adjustment period, but I got comfortable. One thing that helped was being in the bubble of NC State athletics and the team and coaches who really brought me in and were motherly figures." Gapes