Rafaella Gibbons came into Winter Park High School as one of the most highly touted incoming freshman in the state as well as the country. In her first meet in the orange, black, and white Gibbons posted a very impressive time of 18:27.70 to win the Astronaut Invitational. She was second two weeks ago on a challenging Georgia state meet course at the Carrolton Orthapedic Invitational, clocking another sub 19 minute performance of 18:58.23. Already one of the top runners on the 2013 4A runner-up Wildcats, Gibbons is the true definition of a Hoka One One Future Star.
Interview with Winter Park (FL) freshman Rafaella Gibbons
How did you get started in the sport?
I played competitive club soccer for several years and as I got older my playing time got reduced. So my dad suggested I try out for my middle school's track team and so I did. I loved it so much, a lot more than soccer. Winning most of my races led me to quit soccer and go full time in running.
In middle school you won multiple FLYRA MS State Championships, as well as multiple top four finishes in USATF and AAU Cross Country and Track National Championships. Competing at such a high level, was it a natural transition right onto the high school scene for you?
Yes, I think the many big regional and national meets I competed in during middle school helped me to be prepared for high school racing!
What was your summer training like?
Summer training went great. It was a very different experience, but still very fun! My mileage during summer was about 25 miles a week for the summer and working up to 30 miles a week. We went to Brevard Running Camp and it was so much fun. It was a great way to really bond with my teammates and the whole experience was so amazing that I can't wait to go back next summer!
Do you have a favorite workout?
Yes, my favorite workout is 10 by 400s,
Your first high school meet ever wearing the Winter Park jersey was at the Astronaut Invitational. You ran a very impressive 18:27.70 to get the win. What were your emotions going into that race and your thoughts after?
My emotions going into the race were a little nervous because I knew there would be very fast girls out there, but I was even more excited to run my very first high school race. After the race I my thoughts were "I can't believe I won my very first high school race!"
Two weeks ago your team headed to Georgia to run on a tough state meet course up there. What was that change of pace like for you and how did the summer training in Clermont with the hills help prepare you for that?
The change of pace felt very different for me. I wasn't really used to knowing that my time would be about a minute slower than usual, but the Clermont hills definitely helped a lot and got me familiar with running steep hills.
While on a recent workout not only did you get your mileage in but you also played hero saving a baby who was crossing the street. Tell us that story and what it meant to you to have such an impact on that family saving the baby from potential harm?
Maddi Larabee and I had just reached the halfway mark of our 4 mile recovery run so we turned around to head back to Showalter while my other teammates had a little bit longer to run. So, when Maddi and I are on Palmer Avenue I see this baby just coming out of his driveway and with bushes covering what's behind him I was thinking that somebody was behind him. I don't think Maddi saw the baby at the same time I did so we were just talking and I wasn't really focusing on the road ahead of me and then I look up and I see the same baby that I thought had a parent right behind up in the middle of a busy road! So, I ran up to him as fast as I could and I grabbed him thankfully during a break in the traffic, Meanwhile Maddi made sure that there weren't any cars coming up. I then gave her the baby and went up to the house that was facing the part of the street the baby was standing in and I found the mother and gave her back the baby. I felt very fortunate to be there to help.
Maddi Larabee and I had just reached the halfway mark of our 4 mile recovery run so we turned around to head back to Showalter while my other teammates had a little bit longer to run. So, when Maddi and I are on Palmer Avenue I see this baby just coming out of his driveway and with bushes covering what's behind him I was thinking that somebody was behind him. I don't think Maddi saw the baby at the same time I did so we were just talking and I wasn't really focusing on the road ahead of me and then I look up and I see the same baby that I thought had a parent right behind up in the middle of a busy road! So, I ran up to him as fast as I could and I grabbed him thankfully during a break in the traffic, Meanwhile Maddi made sure that there weren't any cars coming up. I then gave her the baby and went up to the house that was facing the part of the street the baby was standing in and I found the mother and gave her back the baby. I felt very fortunate to be there to help.
This past weekend the varsity girls didn't run. I know Coach McWilliams likes to give you breaks in between your large meets. How will that help you at Great American this weekend and down the road heading into state?
It helps me and my teammates with having the opportunity to have great workouts to prepare us for this weekend and other meets in the future.
In middle school you didn't really run with a team. Now you have that team atmosphere. What is that like and how have the other girls embraced you?
It's been a good change to train with fast girls who push me everyday. I loved having teammates who shared a common goal of excelling in running.
Winter Park was state runner up last year and you are arguably the top runner on a team that returns a bunch of girls and inherits some new ones.What's that role been like?
All of us have been working hard to drop our times and I'm just trying to score as low as possible.
What would you your strengths are as a runner?
Hard work, endurance, and mental toughness.
What are your goals for this year both individually and as a team?
Individually my goal this season is to run sub 18 and finish in the top three at state. As a team we want to win this years Cross Country Finals and hopefully qualify for NXN Nationals.
Finish this sentence. Rafaella Gibbons is a ____.
Rafaella Gibbons is a competitor.
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