Alexa Gostovich prepares to have a breakout year

Sophomore Alexa Gostovich paced the St. Joe’s women’s cross country  team at the Haverford Main Line Invitational with a top time for the team at 19:17.4 in the three-mile race, finishing 32nd overall in a field of 83 racers.

It was only her second race of the season, but Gostovich said she felt like this was her first opportunity to really showcase her talents.

“We were resting some of the other runners,” Head Coach Melody O’Reilly said. “Before the race I stood in the huddle and said ‘This is your opportunity so you guys have to step up and be the scoring team today.”

Another sophomore on the team, Morgan Patten, said that Gostovich fought off some nerves heading into the race the night before and channeled them into positive energy. She was able to overcome some confusion about the length of the race course.

“We thought it was three laps but it ended up being two,” Patten said. “I’m not even sure how Alexa was able to do it, but she ended up running really well.”

In addition to being a teammate, Patten is also Gostovich’s roommate. She said they push each other in practice, going back and forth leading their pack during training.

“I normally run with Morgan Patten, Claire Podles and Molly Jacobs,” Gostovich said. “We’re all about equal running strength, so if one us is feeling good that day it pushes the rest of us to work harder.”

Gostovich credited O’Reilly’s empathic leadership for her recent successes. She said she feels O’Reilly’s own experience as a runner for Arkansas University helps her relate to her team and understand what they’re going through.

“Coach O’Reilly is great, she’s very motivational,” Gostovich said. “She really pushes you and cares about you personally, mentally and physically. She wants to make sure that, outside of running, you’re okay.”

Another source of inspiration for Gostovich are senior captains Lindsey Oremus, Britton Gagliardi, Lucy Harmon and Elaine Estes.

O’Reilly said the group of captains has a diverse set of personalities which helps them relate to the whole team.

“A huge consideration for me and who I pick for my captains is how they’ll connect,” O’Reilly said. “And we have a really big roster so I chose four captains. Alexa is pretty easy-going so she can go to any of the captains and feel comfortable.”

Gostovich has no interest in getting complacent throughout the season.

“My goals are to improve and work my way up into the top 12 and see where it goes from there,” Gostovich said.

O’Reilly said she has been very impressed with Gostovich’s progression so far at Hawk Hill and is looking forward to watching her improve.

“Alexa has a really bright future here,” O’Reilly said.