Gwynedd Mercy University Welcomes Jaskowak as Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach

By Greg Gornick

Gwynedd Mercy University Director of Athletics Keith Mondillo is pleased to introduce Catie Jaskowak as the Griffins’ Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach. “We are overjoyed to welcome Coach Jaskowak to Gwynedd Mercy University! Throughout the interview process, Jaskowak separated herself from the field with her extensive experience and quality of character. She’ll make a great Griffin.”

Jaskowak served as an assistant coach for the Mount St. Mary’s University (Aug. 2020 – May 2023) cross country and track and field teams while earning her master’s degree education with a concentration in instructional design and technology (Sept. 2022).

“I am extremely excited to begin this journey at Gwynedd Mercy University,” said Coach Jaskowak. “The athletic department staff has been so welcoming. I look forward to getting to know the student-athletes and helping them grow and develop the cross country program.” A Saint Francis University graduate (May 2020), Jaskowak joined the Mount St. Mary’s University’s cross country and track and field coaching staffs as an assistant in August of 2020. There, Coach Jaskowak helped foster a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I program’s culture while aiding in the oversight and annual recruitment for a 40-person cross country roster and a 140-person track and field roster. In her first year of coaching at Mount St. Mary’s University, Jaskowak doubled the size of the women’s distance program from nine student-athletes to 18. She also helped groom 10 All-Northeast Conference (NEC) performers, three NEC Conference Runner-Ups, three NEC Conference Champions, and an Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (IC4A) Champion in the 800-Meter (1:49.61).

As an undergrad, Jaskowak was a standout distance runner for the St. Francis University women’s cross country and track and field teams. She was a part of the 2016 NEC Women’s Cross Country Championship team and she earned All-Northeast honors in the fall of 2018 by helping the Red Flash to a second-place finish (2nd of 10, 48 points) with her 10th-place time of 18:48.7.

Jaskowak was also an invaluable asset to the Red Flash in both the Indoor and Outdoor NEC Championships. At the indoor championships, she was known for competing in the 3,000-Meter, Mile, and Distance Medley Relay (DMR).

As a junior, Jaskowak led the Red Flash in points at the 2019 NEC Women’s Track and Field Championships with third-place finishes in the 3,000-Meter (10:11.05) and DMR (12:14.20), and an eighth-place finish in the Mile (5:10.92). During outdoor track, Jaskowak specialized in the 3,000m steeplechase. In the spring of 2017, she was named the NEC Steeplechase Rookie of the Year.

Jaskowak was the 3,000-Meter Steeplechase Runner-Up at the 2019 Outdoor NEC Championships, and earlier that season she set the Red Flash record in the event at the College of William & Mary Colonial Relays (11:00.41 on April 5, 2019). She still resides on the Red Flash's Top-10 All-Time performance list in the 3,000-Meter Steeplechase and Distance Medley Relay (12:14.20 @ College of William & Mary Colonial Relays on Apr. 5, 2019).

Jaskowak achieved NEC All-Academic Honors all four years at Saint Francis University. She was a member of Sigma Tau Delta; the International English Honor Society, for which she served as President and was accepted to attend the National Convention in 2020. She was the recipient of the 2019 Kathryn and James Weixel Award for excellence in English, and the 2020 Saint Francis University English Department Award. During her time as an undergrad, Jaskowak also worked as a tutor in the Writing Center and actively taught students in the classroom.

Jaskowak earned her bachelor’s degree in English, with a concentration in secondary and special education in 2020.