Gabbi Jennings Ran in Two National Championships and Turned Pro, All in Three Short Weeks
During a three-week period in June, Gabbi Jennings made some of the biggest decisions of her running career off the track, while racing in some of the biggest races of her career on the track. And throughout this stressful and pressure-packed time, the Furman graduate maintained her poise and remained focused and committed to her long-term growth as a runner.
From June 9 through June 12, Jennings raced the women’s steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, and from June 18 through June 27, she competed at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, also at Hayward Field. In between competitions, the All-American hired an agent to represent her, met with several prospective pro coaches, and decided between contract offers from four different shoe companies that wanted to sign her.
In several interviews with Runner’s World, Jennings shared the highs and lows of her experience from those pivotal three weeks. Here is a moment-by-moment timeline of how she completed her time at Furman and kicked off the next chapter of her running career with Adidas and Team Boss.
Monday, June 7
4 p.m., Eugene, Oregon
I woke up around 4:20 a.m. ET to catch a flight at 6:15 a.m. from Greenville, South Carolina. Then we had a weather delay for four hours in Dallas. It was a long day, but we got in to Eugene around 4 p.m. PT. I went straight to COVID protocol check in, and then I ran seven miles with five strides on Pre’s Trail with my Furman teammate Ryan Adams. After the long travel day, our legs were feeling pretty crunchy, so it was a slow run.
6 p.m., Mazzi’s Italian Restaurant
This was our last team dinner. Saying goodbye to Furman, my coaches Rita and Robert Gary, and my team hasn’t really hit me honestly, which is kind of scary. I was talking to Rita on the way to the airport on Monday, and I was saying how everything just feels so quick, like I didn’t graduate yet. I feel like I’m just going to return to Furman in the fall; I haven’t processed it all yet.
When I left my apartment on Monday morning, I realized that I’m leaving in one uniform, and I might come back in another one.
Tuesday, June 8
10 a.m., Hayward Field
I didn’t know that it’s tradition to warm up on a loop around the Eugene Pioneer Cemetery next to the track. Ryan shared that with me. Then we went to the track for a workout, and it was just wild. I’ve been seeing all these people sharing stuff on social media throughout the season about going to Hayward Field, but it is just so different to actually be there. It’s huge, but it’s also very inviting. Everything is made for the athlete, which is really awesome.
At the track, I did my typical pre-race hype workout that we do two days out from a race, which is 6 x 200 meters at race pace. Also, I went over a few hurdles and water jumps just to get the race feeling.
1:45 p.m., Hideaway Bakery
I got coffee with a prospective coach and old friend. It was very nice to catch up and exciting to hear her vision of starting a group and the support that would be in place. I love seeing the opportunities for this sport’s growth, and I think an empowered woman taking the charge to lead a professional group is the growth we need.
Wednesday, June 9
Pre-race thoughts
The semifinals of the women’s steeplechase is tomorrow. I got some work done on my legs by my trainer after traveling, and I’ve been feeling good ever since. We’ve been tapering a bit, and my coach reminded me I have extra glycogen in my muscles so my legs will feel a little bit heavy. I’ve run enough championships to know that you usually feel a little heavier before you do something really good. Plus, the goal of the prelim is to get to the final and we are confident in getting that mission done.
My heat is pretty stacked, but I’m excited—because by the final, I will have raced everybody already.
The most important thing for me going into these races is to remember my coach’s mantra: “No preconceived notions. Whatever happens, you’re just going to respond to it and say “yes.’” I'll be saying a lot of yeses in the prelim and the final, no matter what it looks like.
Thursday, June 10
4:00 p.m., Hayward Field
I was in the second heat of the steeplechase semifinal. We knew it was going to be fast, because my heat had almost all of the top-ranked women. I was ready to run a PR, but pace wasn’t important to me. I knew the time would come if I placed in the top five and advanced to the final.
The goal was to get out there, be on the shoulder and lead for as long as possible. That started with winning the first hurdle, as my coaches say. I pride myself on having pretty good hurdling form, but sometimes when I get stuck behind other hurdlers who maybe aren’t as good, I hurdle similarly to them. Stopping and speeding back up wastes a lot of energy.
The pace started to pick up in the last three laps when Oregon’s Aneta Konieczek made a move coming out of the water pit. I tried to tuck in behind her, but I started to get a little tired and started doubting myself going into the last water jump. I ended up stuttering too much and stumbling out of it, but I had to make sure I got an automatic qualification to the final. When I heard the announcer say, “Here comes Gabbi Jennings!” I started sprinting so hard just to hold that spot.
When I finished and saw that my time—9:38.88, which was a PR (I’ve been wanting to break 9:40 for a long time)—I knew this NCAA final would be very fast. It was all about surviving and advancing, and that’s what I did.
Friday, June 11
10:30 a.m., my hotel room
My coach scheduled a Zoom meeting with our sports psychologist back in Greenville, in case I needed any reassurance or a confidence boost. I’ve been feeling like I’m in a good spot all season, and I’ve felt minimal stress, but it’s always good to check in.
He gave me this great advice: “If you get to the starting line and you do feel a little bit of stress or nervousness that you maybe didn’t expect at the last minute, just know that that’s your body anticipating doing something exciting.”
I really liked that advice, and I’ll probably take that with me for a long time.
Saturday, June 12
3:24 p.m., Hayward Field
After I did my shakeout and pre-race ritual—I blast music in my room and put on my makeup, aka warpaint, to hype myself up—we arrived at the track for the steeplechase final of the NCAA championships.
In the race, there was a lot of jostling and wasted energy—I almost went down a few times—and I should’ve positioned myself a little better near the front to avoid being behind hurdlers who stop and start a lot. Next time, I need to get out in front right away. I don’t care if I have to sprint just to get to that first hurdle, I’ll end up conserving more energy sprinting the first 100 meters and getting there first than running behind other hurdlers.
I crossed the line seventh in 9:38.24, another personal best. I’m proud of the way I kept telling myself to stay in it. Watching the race over, it looked like I was going to drop in those last laps, but somehow I kept staying in there. I willed myself to stay in it. I’m taking it as a learning experience and good reflection for the Olympic Trials.
For the longest time, it hadn’t hit me that this would be my last NCAA championship as a Furman athlete, but it finally hit me in the last two laps of that race.
I’m a huge fan of the underdog stories. I highly respect all of the women in that race, but I’m so happy that Mahala Norris won. If it couldn’t have been me, I’m glad it was her.
Monday, June 14
Morning, Glenwood restaurant
I’m recovering from an allergic reaction I got after eating a breakfast burrito with jalapeños in it. My throat swelled up, I’ve been coughing a lot, and I got really nauseous. I was scared I was going to lose my voice because I was coughing so much, but I’ve been drinking a lot of hot tea and soup, and I’m starting to feel better.
I decided I’m never eating jalapeños ever again.
Tuesday, June 15
Morning
I received my first professional contract offer from a sponsor who asked me to join their team.
Thursday, June 17
3 p.m.
I signed a contract to work with my agent, Ray Flynn. In our meeting, we went over the first contract offer and talked about the three other brands who expressed interest in me.
Friday, June 18
9 a.m. - 12 p.m., Starbucks
I had three different meetings with three prospective coaches to learn about their group dynamics.
Saturday, June 19
9:30 p.m., Hotel room
I received my second contract proposal from another sponsor and training group.
Sunday, June 20
8:35 p.m., Hayward Field
My first race at the Olympic Trials was not what I wanted, but it’s good to race and practice managing uncontrollable variables. After getting shuffled to the back at NCAAs in the final, I was terrified to start slow, so I got out fast and was in good position; the whole time I kept telling myself, it’s going to get hard.
On lap six, I don’t know if it was the heat or because I was having breathing issues because of my throat leading up to this race, but I started getting dizzy. I swerved a little bit, and I hit my ankle on the inside rail going into the third hurdle on the backstretch. I zoned out for a second, and then I remember the barrier at my hips. All of a sudden, I woke up again, and I was on the ground. A girl was coming off the hurdle, and I had to move out of the way.
I didn’t know what just happened, but I knew I didn’t come here to DNF at the Olympic Trials. I would rather do literally anything but DNF. I didn’t care if I was injured or not, I had the adrenaline going, and I was going to finish the race.
After I finished 10th, running 9:58.07, I had to use an inhaler because my coughing fits made it hard to breathe. It was a tough first go at the Olympic Trials, but I know it’s only going to get better from here.
Monday, June 21
8:30 a.m., hotel room
I received an individual contract offer from Adidas. The possibility of choosing my own coach and training environment really excited me. It was such a tough decision between brands because I was genuinely considering every offer.
10 a.m.- 2 p.m., Meraki Coffee and Starbucks
I had two more meetings with prospective coaches and marketing executives of two different brands.
3:45 p.m, Adidas hospitality tent
I spoke with a representative from one of the Adidas-sponsored groups I was considering. Speaking with all of these impressive groups made me realize how much I value my coach and teammates moving forward in this decision process. Prioritizing those two components was very similar to the way I chose Furman.
Tuesday, June 22
9 a.m., hotel room
I received my fourth contract proposal. Shortly after, I met with Ray, and we narrowed my options down to two brands. It became one of those situations where I really couldn’t make a wrong choice. One was just more right than the other.
I started thinking about where I ultimately wanted to be, and I brought up the possibility of joining Team Boss, the group led by coach Joe Bosshard (steeplechase world champion Emma Coburn’s husband) in Boulder, Colorado. I’ve admired Team Boss for many years; it’s a bunch of women working hard, and achieving big things together, and if there was a chance I could be part of it, I wanted to take it.
I’ve always admired Emma, and to have the opportunity to train with someone who has that level of experience would be too good of an opportunity to pass up. I’ve always thrived in an environment where challenge is a privilege.
Wednesday, June 23
12 p.m. - 2 p.m., Magpie Coffeeshop
After Ray coordinated a meeting, Joe and I met for lunch to talk about the possibility of joining Team Boss. His coaching philosophy is very similar to the Gary’s, and I felt like it wouldn’t be too much of a transition as far as coach and athlete communication goes. He took the time to sit with me for as long as I wanted to get to know him and learn about the group, which I really appreciated because I was under a time crunch to make a decision. It was a great conversation and afterwards, he got back to me really quickly and said the girls would love to have me and offered me a spot.
Around 3:30 p.m., I called Ray and shared my final decision. I also called the other three coaches who expressed interest and let them know that I was going to join Team Boss and sign with Adidas.
Thursday, June 24
10:30 a.m., South Eugene High School
I ran with Cory McGee, who trains with Team Boss and just made her first Olympic team in the 1500 meters. After our run, I signed my Adidas contract against a car window in the parking lot.
12 p.m., Starbucks
I know my best race would’ve made the Olympic Trials final. I’m really thankful that all of the brands and coaches who were interested in me before the race, continued to be interested in me despite the fact that I didn’t have a great race. I’m really thankful for everybody that saw the potential.
One race does not define the whole season or the athlete or what could come in the future. Being with a coach that sees my potential and really wants to work with me to unlock all of those levels, I think that’s the best thing for me because that shows that they care about me and my future and are invested in me as an athlete and as a person.
After the Trials, Coach Rita reminded me that you only get two or three of these opportunities at the Olympic Trials, and she wanted to make sure I use this one as a learning experience and be prepared for the next time I come here. She always tells me, “You’re better the second time you see something,” so that has been my motto moving forward. I’m already thinking ahead to the next national championship.
As I develop as a professional athlete, I’m looking forward to moving my rank up further and further. One of these next three years, I want to make Team USA. I think that’s a realistic opportunity, especially with the training partners I’ll have. I couldn't be more excited for this opportunity, and I'm so thankful for those that helped me get here.
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