Gina Procaccio
Encyclopedia
Gina Procaccio is a retired American long and middle distance distance runner. In 1995, she was the USATF National Champion in the indoor 5000 metres, which qualified her to run for her native country in the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics
in Barcelona
, Spain
.
who ran in the same district. "I didn't think I was any good." But by her Junior year she was second in the Pennsylvania State Championships at 800 metres
. After Gallagher graduated, Procaccio won the state meet in 1982 with a personal record of 2:10.53 She continued to the University of Florida
for the first three years of college, but returned to her home state. She completed her collegiate eligibility at Villanova University
where she ran leadoff for the still standing Indoor 4x800 metre relay record holding team for not only the United States
but the entire North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association and including South America
the Pan American record, while winning the NCAA Indoor Championships.
in the United States six times between 1989 and 1995. She established a solid reputation in top level Miles, including defeating the standing world record holder in the mile and winning the 1500 at the Penn Relays
. She placed as high as 3rd in the USA National Championships. In 1995, she expanded her range by challenging and winning the National Championship in the 5000 metres
. That brought her to Europe where she challenged the top runners of the world, winning several highly competitive 3000 metre races and achieving the number one ranking that year.
winning the overall individual title. It was Villanova's 9th NCAA women's cross country title, the most of any university.
IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics
The International Association of Athletics Federations World Indoor Championships were inaugurated as the World Indoor Games in 1985 in Paris, France and were subsequently renamed in 1987 as they are known today.-History:...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Early career
While running for Sun Valley High School in Aston, Pennsylvania, she was a perennial second place to eventual National Recordholder Kim GallagherKim Gallagher
Kim Ann Gallagher was an American track & field Olympian, who participated in two Summer Olympics...
who ran in the same district. "I didn't think I was any good." But by her Junior year she was second in the Pennsylvania State Championships at 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
. After Gallagher graduated, Procaccio won the state meet in 1982 with a personal record of 2:10.53 She continued to the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
for the first three years of college, but returned to her home state. She completed her collegiate eligibility at Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
where she ran leadoff for the still standing Indoor 4x800 metre relay record holding team for not only the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
but the entire North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association and including South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
the Pan American record, while winning the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Professional career
Her primary distance was the mile or its metric cousin the 1500. She ranked in the top ten of the 1500 metres1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
in the United States six times between 1989 and 1995. She established a solid reputation in top level Miles, including defeating the standing world record holder in the mile and winning the 1500 at the Penn Relays
Penn Relays
The Penn Relays is the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, hosted annually since April 21, 1895 by the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
. She placed as high as 3rd in the USA National Championships. In 1995, she expanded her range by challenging and winning the National Championship in the 5000 metres
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
. That brought her to Europe where she challenged the top runners of the world, winning several highly competitive 3000 metre races and achieving the number one ranking that year.
Coaching
After a 1995 injury suddenly curtailed her running career, Procaccio accepted an offer to assist with the women's running programs at Villanova. In 2000 she became head women's track and cross country coach. In 2009, under her leadership, the Villanova Cross Country team won the NCAA Championships. Her 2010 cross country team repeated as NCAA team champions, with Villanova's top runner Sheila ReidSheila Reid (athlete)
Sheila Reid is an Canadian athlete who competes in Cross country, middle and long distance track events. She competes at Villanova University. Reid won the 2010 and 2011 NCAA Women's Cross Country Championship, and in June 2011 became the first woman to win the 5000 m and the 1500 m at the...
winning the overall individual title. It was Villanova's 9th NCAA women's cross country title, the most of any university.