TOWSON, Md. – When Abby Gauthier first started running track, she never imagined that she would grow to love the steeplechase.
 
The Toms River, New Jersey native competed in the mile, and the 5,000-meters in high school.
 
Things unexpectedly changed when Gauthier arrived at Towson University.
 
"In high school, I didn't jump over one hurdle in my life," Gauthier said. "I was always impressed by people who could do hurdles and I never thought I could get the technique down myself. When (Towson head women's track and field coach Mike Jackson) first suggested I compete in the steeplechase, I was skeptical and nervous.
 
"After my first (steeplechase) race, I was hooked and fell in love it. I did O.K. and I didn't fall. I gained a lot of confidence after that first race. It made me realize that you can do more than you think you can and accomplish any challenge if that's what you want to do."
 
Gauthier will compete in her first steeplechase race of the 2019 outdoor season on Saturday at the Towson Invitational. The meet will be held at Unitas Stadium beginning at 10:30 a.m. with the field events. The track events start at noon. Admission is free.
 
"I am always excited to compete in the steeplechase," Gauthier said. "To run it for the first time this season at my last home meet is an honor.  I have lots of mixed emotions, but I am really excited about running on Saturday. I love the steeplechase because the hurdles and water add an extra element and provides an added challenge to the race. It's an exciting race in which you feel accomplished afterwards."
 
There's plenty that goes into the steeplechase. To the untrained fan, watching runners jump over various hurdles and into the water is a cool experience. On 80 degree days, jumping into the water is refreshing, but the race itself is a grueling and mentally draining experience. The truth is that the steeplechase is a brutal event in which runners wince with discomfort throughout the race.
 
Runners have to be strong and strategic to be successful in it. Competitors must jump over 28 barriers and clear seven water jumps while maintaining a certain level of speed to stay near the front of the pack.
 
"There's a lot more technique involved in this event because it's not just straight racing," Gauthier said. "You need to think about the technique on the jumps and water pits. It requires a lot of outside work. At practice, I'll finish with hurdles, doing repetitive jumps over hurdles with both legs so I can get that into muscle memory to avoid any falls in the race. We'll do jumps into the sand pit instead of the water pit because it helps prepare us for landing on uneven surfaces.
 
"The barriers and water jumps in combination with the race itself adds a mental challenge because you become super tired really fast running and jumping. You have be mentally tough and push through the pain."
 
Gauthier has enjoyed a terrific career. She was a member of the Tigers' Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship squad in 2017. In that championship meet, Gauthier ran a personal best time of 10:59.38 in finishing seventh in the steeplechase.
 
Last week at Delaware, Gauthier was fourth in the 1,500-meter run. She is rounding into form after being grounded by an injury during the indoor season. Her frustration and pain came from watching and not the actual injury.
 
"I learned I had to be patient during my recovery," Gauthier said. "Obviously, being injured is every athletes' worst nightmare. I knew if I worked hard with cross-training, I knew I could come back. Winning CAAs and making school history and being part of that excitement was so worth the intense training and sacrifices."
 
Gauthier's future is bright once she earns her English degree next month. She has secured a job with a digital marketing agency. Gauthier is currently reading a memoir of a professional runner titled "Let Your Mind Run" by Deena Kastor. She spends her free time sleeping and watching Netflix. 
 
She's excited to have her family in attendance on Saturday and compete in a familiar environment.
 
"I will be happy with my performance on Saturday if I go out, attack the race and give it my all," Gauthier said. "I am slowly coming back and getting stronger. I know if I do well this weekend, it will help me go into the rest of the season and CAA's with confidence. I've loved every minute of my time here at Towson. All of the ups and downs. I love my teammates and being part of a team has given me a stronger sense of purpose."