The words team player and Krissy Gear seem synonymous. Known by the Florida running community as a multi-time State champion and prominent frontrunner for Fort Myers High School, Krissy has worked to adjust to new expectations and to find collegiate success. She recognizes that, "college is a whole other level of running... It was an eye opener."
Now a freshman at Division I Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, she is happy to be part of a team where she has numerous talented teammates to train with, including multiple time All-American Allie Buchalski, as well as many former high school state champions and NXN and Footlocker Nationals qualifiers.
She emphasizes how grateful she is to be part of the accomplished and driven group that made Furman history by taking 7th at the 2017 NCAA XC Championships. Her former coach, Rob Strong, says, "Two things help make Krissy who she is. First, she has a tremendous will to prepare. She does every little thing to assure that she is in a place to be successful. The second is that she has a passion to see the people around her succeed. I think she loves seeing others succeed more than she enjoys her own success. Both are a true testament to the person and teammate she is."
Her will to prepare was evident this past weekend at the Vanderbilt Invitational where Krissy made Furman history. She felt "very strong and in control," as she set a Furman school record in the 800m with a PR of 2:08.
For her early season success and improvement she again credits her team, coaches, and an evolution in her mindset. "I really love the team," she says. Additionally, she likes the very involved coaches who meet with athletes weekly and "genuinely care about how you're doing." They surprised her when they told her that they thought she could open her indoor season with a PR.
Furman uses an image of Krissy's record setting 800m performance on the home page of their Track and Field website, yet she says she has been humbled by the collegiate running experience. Former teammate, Fiona Kurland, recalls Krissy's humble and team-oriented mindset, "Before races she would always remind our team that we aren't running for ourselves. We are running for each other... She would always text me before every meet this year. When I was having problems, she would always be there to encourage me, even all the way from South Carolina."
After a cross country season of performing below her expectations and adjusting to the heightened level of competition, Krissy has made a conscious and successful effort to put less pressure on herself and do what she would advise younger athletes to do, "Have fun... believe in yourself but don't put too much pressure on yourself. Go out there and run your best."
Recalling a conversation with her Grandpa when she was a sophomore, she knew she wanted to run at the next level, but was expecting it to be more of a means to help pay for college at an academically focused school. She realizes now, "It's becoming a lot more than that." Enjoying being part of a team with 7 women's team members and 5 men's team members on the Fall Academic All-Conference Team, her objective of being in a top-notch academic environment is certainly being fulfilled.
When she is not running, Krissy is working towards a major in Urban Studies at a highly ranked undergraduate liberal arts school. With her sights set on a faster 800m performance at the Samford Invitational in two weeks, Nationals qualification, and an All-American title, Gear is shifting her performance into high gear.
