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'Surreal to say the least': Fort Myers' Krissy Gear prepares for world track championships

dustin b levy, fort myers news-press
·4 min read
Jul 8, 2023; Eugene, OR, USA; Krissy Gear celebrates after poses after winning the women's steeplechase in 9:12.81 during the USATF Championships at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 8, 2023; Eugene, OR, USA; Krissy Gear celebrates after poses after winning the women's steeplechase in 9:12.81 during the USATF Championships at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

As she takes the next step in her career, Krissy Gear is keeping her feet planted firmly on the ground.

The Fort Myers alumni, who won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the U.S. Championships last month, is focused on savoring the moment as she trains for an opportunity she didn’t expect for herself – the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

“It’s definitely surreal, to say the least,” Gear said.

Worlds kick off Saturday, and Gear, who runs professionally for HOKA Northern Arizona Elite, is trying to enjoy the process and avoid getting in her own head.

“It’s given me the opportunity to reframe what I’m capable of,” she said.

More: Fort Myers' Krissy Gear wins national steeplechase title, heading to Worlds in Hungary

Gear, 24, chased down 10-time national steeplechase champion Emma Coburn in the final stretch of the race in Eugene, Oregon for a personal best time of 9:12.81.

Rob Strong, Gear’s former high school coach at Fort Myers, said he could have woken everybody in his house as he watched and cheered from his home in Ohio.

“That last hurdle made the race,” he said. “That momentum just kind of carried her through.”

Strong has followed Gear’s career closely since high school, and they continue to share a bond. She has twice visited with his current track team at Chillicothe High School.

Strong was even messaging with Gear leading up to her big race.

“It’s almost just a belief thing,” he said. “I want to make sure she knows how good she is.”

For Gear, the race changed her perception of herself and what she can achieve in the sport.

“I’ve accomplished a lot more this year than I ever thought I’d be able to do,” she said.

It was always evident to Strong when he coached Gear at Fort Myers that he was working with a special athlete.

“She was intense,” he said. “I’ve never before and since had an athlete that was as intense as her.”

Krissy Gear, left, makes a move on Emma Coburn on the last water jump with Courtney Wayment, right, on her way to victory in the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase on day three of the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships Saturday, July 8, 2023.
Krissy Gear, left, makes a move on Emma Coburn on the last water jump with Courtney Wayment, right, on her way to victory in the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase on day three of the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships Saturday, July 8, 2023.

Gear earned six state titles for the Green Wave, winning three consecutive 1600-meter crowns (2015-17), two straight in the 3200 (2016-17), and an 800 title (2017).

She ran collegiately at Furman and Arkansas, where she first took on the steeplechase and qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships as a sophomore. In her junior year, she helped the Razorbacks win the 2021 NCAA Indoor Track title by taking fifth in the 1500 and was a leg on the Arkansas NCAA champion women's distance medley relay team. She placed fourth in the 1500 at the 2022 NCAA outdoor championships.

Despite many of her achievements coming in the 1500, her experience in the 3000-meter steeplechase made it a natural adjustment when her coaches at the pro level wanted her to run it.

"I think it’s the second or third hardest event on the track," Strong said.

In Strong's opinion, Gear is the best female track athlete to come out of Southwest Florida.

"She's the best athlete I ever coached," he added.

Along with Strong, Gear has also stayed in touch with Fort Myers track coach Kelly Britton and felt the support of many others in her hometown.

“I feel like I had a lot of people in my corner since day one,” she said. “It’s been awesome to know I still have that original community and built over time­.”

Jul 8, 2023; Eugene, OR, USA; Krissy Gear celebrates after winning the women's steeplechase in 9:12.81 during the USATF Championships at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 8, 2023; Eugene, OR, USA; Krissy Gear celebrates after winning the women's steeplechase in 9:12.81 during the USATF Championships at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Strong said Gear has had an “unreal” impact on his teams – his athletes are glued to their devices when she’s competing.

“It’s been fun to watch and it’s been really cool just to talk to her after races and see how she’s doing,” he said.

As she prepares for Hungary, Gear said she is learning how to grapple with the new expectations and attention.

“I hope, when it’s all said and done, she knows the things that she’s accomplished,” Strong said.

“I’m just so proud of her, and it's not just from a running aspect, it's where she was eight years ago to where she is now.”

Now that she’s accomplished her goal of making the U.S. team for the world championships, Gear has made it a goal to make a final – while enjoying the experience as much as possible.

“I think just the opportunity to test my limits and see what I can do and really compete because I love to compete, so I think it’ll be really exciting to see how I stack up against the best in the world,” she said.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers' Krissy Gear reflects on U.S. steeplechase title, world track championships