The following feature appeared in the September 5, 2025, Volume 9, Issue 1 edition of the SCoop, Siena University's semi-monthly e-newsletter for the Siena community

Velika Planina is a high mountain plateau in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps of Slovenia. The "Big Pasture Plateau" is famous for its breathtaking natural beauty, but Gabby DeAngelis '24 wasn't on a sight-seeing hike through the Alps this summer. She was sprinting through the thin air while wearing red, white, and blue. 

DeAngelis remembers the very first time she discovered that mountain running is even a thing. 

"I was on a hike with my family when I was in middle school, and a crew of runners sped past us. I vividly remember thinking, 'Why on earth would you want to run up this? Wouldn't you be going too fast to appreciate the views? How are you even enjoying this?' But all these years later, here I am."

DeAngelis was a member of Siena's MAAC championship soccer team in the spring of 2021, and after four seasons on the pitch, she ran track and cross country her final semester. In January of 2024, DeAngelis was a member of the 4x400 relay team that broke the Siena record. Four months later, she earned her degree in biochemistry, graduating magna cum laude. After conquering every figurative mountain she set out to summit at Siena, she got serious about some very serious mountains.

A native of New Hampshire, DeAngelis grew up skiing and hiking the White Mountains. She's a natural athlete, with a competitive drive, and she realized that her two-sport experience provided an edge: through soccer, she developed a great strength base and her cross country/track experience deepened her aerobic base. Combine that unique athletic prowess with her love of the mountains and her passion for the outdoors, and all of a sudden a new path (or mountain trail) opened up.

The Mountain Running World Cup is a prestigious annual series of off-road races. Held annually, it brings together the world's best off-road mountain runners along with the most prestigious mountain running events. When Team USA was assembling its roster for this year's World Cup in Slovenia, the coach solicited applications. On a whim, DeAngelis, who had some success this summer in USA Track and Field mountain running events, applied. 

"I figured, 'It can't hurt.' I shared my collegiate athletics background and my results from the two other races I ran this summer. That was enough to earn me a spot! Honestly, I began the trip with a whole bunch of imposter syndrome. Because I was selected via application, I had no way of knowing where I stood in comparison to the other athletes up for consideration. But it all worked out. Putting on the race kit with 'USA' on it was a dream, I can't help but smile every time I think about it. I still can't believe it. So cool."

The coach told DeAngelis that her "team" (two, actually) experience was a major factor. She wasn't just about herself. But individually at the World Cup, she excelled. DeAngelis finished 12th in the World Cup Final Class Race and placed 17th in the Vertical Race (mountain running has three disciplines, Ultra or Long Distance, is the third).

"I had such a great time. This trip has exposed me to European racing and culture which is infectious in a way I cannot begin to explain. This trip also helped me get my name associated with some international results! I can't wait to get back to the grind of training to continue this journey in mountain running."

But first, back to the books. DeAngelis has two semesters left at the University of New Hampshire, where she's working toward a master's in environmental engineering. And in October, she'll compete in the Canadian Nationals in Quebec. After that...

"Future goals are honestly to enjoy my mid-20s while I can and really see how much I can grow into mountain and trails. I also see myself wanting to get into the XTERRA circuit (off-road triathlons where the bike is a mountain bike course and the run is a trail run). I will always have my degrees; office job applications will likely be open when I am ready. With that said, I would love to explore seasonal/part time/remote jobs that allow me to spend as much time in the mountains/racing as I can! I understand this would be the ideal scenario and it might not work out but hey, nothing is stopping me from trying to make it happen!"