Feature on Gayla Harrington

Balancing work and running with a full-time class schedule gives SIUC women’s cross country runner Gayla Harrington a great amount of responsibility to handle on a daily basis.

I work about eight hours a week at the (Recreation) Center, plus I tutor, Harrington said. So, whenever I have any free time, I just like to relax.

Harrington practices about 15 hours a week with the Salukis, as well as attending eight meets during the season.

Saluki coach Don DeNoon said Harrington does well in keeping her busy schedule intact.

She balances the act, so to speak, DeNoon said. Distance runners tend to be self-motivated, and the busier they are, the more they feel they can get done.

Running has become a habit for Harrington, a senior in accounting from Carbondale.

I’m just so used to doing it, Harrington said. It helps me manage my time and helps teach responsibility with both working and running.

Harrington began running track in seventh grade and started running cross country her sophomore year at Carbondale High School.

I began running cross country to train for track, but I found out it was something I happened to be OK at, she said.

Harrington is a walk-on to the cross country team but has worked her way into the top five this year through continuous training.

Harrington spent the summer training with fellow runners Leah Steele and Raina Larsen by running several road races.

DeNoon said Harrington’s work this summer led to her improvement this season.

I think this is the first summer she has trained like this, DeNoon said. It certainly has enhanced her improvement.

Harrington has finished fourth for the Salukis in three out of six meets this season.

At the Sept. 22 Bradley University Invitational, she placed 22nd out of 139 runners with a time of 19 minutes and 28 seconds to help the Salukis to a second-place finish out of 22 teams.

She also helped the team to a fourth-place finish out of 20 teams at the Sept. 20 Commodore Classic in Nashville, Tenn., with a 48th place finish (20:21) out of more than 200 runners.

Saturday, Harrington helped lead the Salukis to a second-place finish out of eight teams at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Invitational with a 12th place finish (19:14) out of 77 runners.

DeNoon said Harrington has led the team in more ways than just by her running.

She is a very pleasant person, DeNoon said. She was voted co-captain by her teammates, and she is a good positive leader. She leads with both vocal leadership and by example.

Sophomore runner Joy Cutrano said Harrington is very approachable.

She always has a positive outlook and works hard with the rest of us, Cutrano said. She is a very easy-going person.

Harrington is scheduled to graduate in August, but still has another year of eligibility because she red-shirted last year to study at SIUC’s Nakajo campus in Japan.

I wanted to go to Japan to do something different and experience schooling abroad, Harrington said. It was hard to adjust to, but everyone treated the Americans well, and there were a lot of American teachers there.

After graduation Harrington plans on continuing her schooling at the University of Florida or Florida State University.

I want to either get into sports medicine or international business and receive my CPA (certified public accountant) certificate, she said.

But before Harrington graduates from SIUC she wants to improve on athletics and academics.

I would like to run under 2:20 (in the 800-meter) in track and work on raising my GPA (which is a 3.0), she said.

Harrington said DeNoon has helped build her confidence and development as a runner.

He is a good coach, but you have to work hard, and nothing comes easy with him, she said. He’s taught me to believe in myself in both running and school.

Harrington chose SIUC over a group of colleges, including Grambling State University, the University of Illinois and Indiana State University.

It has been a good experience here, but I get bored because I’m used to the area, Harrington said. I don’t utilize my resources as much as I should.

Some of the factors that led her in the decision to go to SIUC was the familiarity with DeNoon and the school’s academics.

My high school coach knew Don, and his wife was my freshman track coach, Harrington said. Plus, I knew more about the business program here.

Harrington said the transition to SIUC was difficult at first, but has been easier of late.

I struggled the first two years here because I got stuck in between work and practice trying to pay those bills, Harrington said. There was also a lot more competition in the Division I race than in high school.

Harrington said she owes a lot of the credit of her success and her ability to handle so much responsibility to her mother.

She is a very hard-working woman, and I think a lot of that has carried over to me, Harrington said.

Harrington and the Salukis are in preparation for the Nov. 1 Missouri Valley Conference Championships in Springfield, Mo.