The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1547338
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2026 ■ 47 attitude ever since. Confidence and belief are a dangerous set of traits, and they're both at sky-high levels for the veteran runner. As a result, she's put together a dominant graduate campaign since re- turning to the grass with the Wolfpack, posting victories in both regular-sea- son meets she competed in, including a course-record performance at the same course that will host the NCAA Champi- onships (Terre Haute, Ind.) in November. It's safe to say the spotlight hasn't af- fected Gapes' performance heading into the postseason. But how has she main- tained her high-level running with the external pressures of needing to be elite and actually executing it? It all circles back to the exact reason why she fell in love with the sport as a youngster. "It's just remembering that it really is just running," Gapes said. "Putting it back to why I began doing this sport and what my deep motivations are — that's to compete to my potential, not what any- one else expects my potential to be. "Having Laurie, who's had some high-performing athletes, and a really good support system and great parents kind of allows me to remember exactly why I do it." Gapes has a chance to do something only four others in program history, in- cluding Tuohy, have done: win an in- dividual national championship. There is a crowded field of elite competitors that will toe the line alongside her in November, but at the same time, Gapes is prepared for this moment. It's what she desired as a freshman watching the likes of Chmiel and Tuohy set the standard in each workout. Now, it's her turn after grinding for this very oppor- tunity during her five seasons at NC State. "It hasn't necessarily been linear," Gapes said of her rise. "It's almost like it's come out of a little bit of nowhere, but it's been four years of persistence and having a goal that I didn't lose sight of." ■ " Pressure is a privilege, but you need to learn how to navigate that pressure." Gapes