Isaiah Gilbert

Cross country runner Isaiah Gilbert is the Athlete of the Week. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Gilbert is a graduate of Ponchatoula High School and currently a freshman biology major. Gilbert was a two-year letter winner in cross country, and a three-year letter winner in track and field at PHS. He was named cross country MVP in 2012, 2014 and field MVP in 2014. In the first meet of the season as a Lion, Gilbert placed second at the University of New Orleans meet. He then followed that up by placing fifth overall at the Wolfpack Invitational in Metairie. This performance helped the Lions finish first in the meet.

The Lions Roar: How did you get into cross country? 

Isaiah Gilbert: I was playing basketball, and I decided I needed to get in shape for the ball team so I can be that guy in the fourth quarter that is not tired and still scoring while everyone else is lagging around. I tried out for distance and started keeping up with varsity and did really good at the meets. That was my thing all of a sudden.

TLR: What are your hopes after college? 

IG:  To go to medical school, pursue a degree and become a family practitioner.

TLR: What is your most memorable moment running cross-country?

IG: Crossing the finish line my senior year. I placed ninth in the 5-A division and I ranked ninth in the whole state and made all-state team. I went through so much to get it; no one else at my school had ever done that. 

TLR: Do you have any goals this season?

IG: My goals this season are to become one of the top performers for my team, be side-by-side with Harry and run in the 26 for the 8k.

TLR: Who is your inspiration? 

IG: Steve Prefontaine.

TLR: What do you like most about cross-country?

IG: The hard work put into it. I can’t really put a name to why I love the sport [because] it is a hard sport to love. I just love it, the feeling [you get] afterwards, the pain of it and the hard work put into it.

TLR: Do you have any meet day rituals? 

IG: Pray and eat good. 

TLR: How does it feel to be named athlete of the week? 

IG: I feel good, real good. Hopefully, I could achieve more than that, but it’s a start, like a nice encouragement, a nice booster.