Oct. 2, 2007

Cross Country tri-captain Casey Gale spent her summer running around 60 miles each week. However, after missing the first race of the year due to an injury, Gale has had to work even harder to show how all her training has paid off.

Gale did not compete in the Gamecock Invitational as she was fighting through a heel injury. That didn’t keep Gale from setting goals though. “I’m hoping to start getting back into my routine workouts,” Gale said. “My goals for right now are just to get healthy and running steadily again. After that I’d really like to break my PR and go sub-17:30 or maybe even break into the 16’s.”

During her time of recovery, Gale has looked to her coach and teammates for support. “My teammates and Coach are always there for me to talk to and are constantly handing out words of advice and encouragement,” she said. “My co-captain Callie Rabun is especially encouraging because she’s been through the same injury and a lot of the other girls on my team are hurt right now, so we’re all trying to stay positive together.”

Gale has definitely grown over the years as a runner. She has done a lot of studying and has a new focus for this season. “This year I’m really focusing on making my hard days count and totally recovering on my easy days so I can get better and prepare for the next hard workout,” she said.

In her first two races of the season, Gale came out strong and claimed a top-10 finish in both the Winthrop-Asics Invitational and the First Annual Charlotte Invitational.

Gale and the Gamecocks will be back in action as they head to the Disney Invitational this weekend.