Plum sprinter Gabrielle Layne signs with Pitt

By: Michael Love
Saturday, May 24, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Gabrielle Layne stood in the library at Plum High School last Wednesday with a smile on her face from ear to ear.

She spent a small part of her afternoon celebrating a decision that will shape the next four years of her life.

The Plum senior track and field standout made her college decision final by signing with Pitt.

“It’s really amazing,” Layne said. “I didn’t think I would get to this point. It’s been a really, really tough past few months trying to find a school. For it to be Pitt, it’s a really big accomplishment for me, and I am really proud of this one.”

Layne’s signing comes as she wraps up her high school outdoor track and field career and was preparing to graduate this week.

She earned a pair of silver medals in the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the WPIAL Class 3A championships May 14 at Slippery Rock.

Layne also was set to go after all-time best times and challenge the best in the state at the PIAA championships last Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg.

“(The recruiting process) felt a little stressful at times, but at this point, (signing with Pitt) is a big weight lifted off my shoulders,” Layne said.

“It is one less thing I have to worry about as I end my senior year.”

Layne said she was excited to get the word out on social media after her signing with Pitt that ended a quick, whirlwind process.

She said she was ready to commit to Temple and had made a visit. When Pitt came into the picture, it seemed to her like a good fit, and the process continued.

“My mom, Kimberly, went to Pitt, and she’s been a fan her whole life,” Layne said. “I reached out to the coach (Alonzo Webb) a couple of months ago. I know he probably gets flooded with emails. But he reached out to me two weeks ago. It was kind of surprising because I didn’t think he would reach out. It was really late in the game.

“I now know that it is never too late for an athlete. If a coach wants you bad enough, they will do what they can to try and make it happen. It was a tough discussion, but I soon knew what was best for me and my future. The Temple coach understood where I was coming from. He said it was Temple’s loss, but Pitt’s gain. He was really respectful about it, and I respect him for that.”

Now that Layne has established herself as a future Panthers athlete, she said running Division I track and field close to home is a nice benefit of her decision.

“That was one of the main things with the decision process,” she said. “Temple is five hours away, and Pitt is so much closer. I know I have that support system of family and friends closer to me. Pitt also is a great school, and the track program is doing some great things.”

While Layne has concentrated on the 100 and 200 at Plum, she said she will have a future in the 400 at Pitt.

“It will be the 400, the 200, and maybe the 100 at times,” she said. “He said he sees me as a 400 runner. It’s something new, and I am excited for it.”

Layne said preparation work for her arrival on campus in September begins over the summer. She will train and stay in shape with her Future Stars club team, but she is not sure if she will compete.

“I also expect (coach Webb) to send me summer workouts that will help me get ready for the fall,” Layne said.

This spring’s Pitt women’s roster was flooded with several distance runners from WPIAL schools. Layne said she is happy to be able to add to that WPIAL presence.

“It is really good for the Pitt program, and also a good message to send to other area athletes that Pitt can be an option to continue their track careers at the Division I level close to home,” Layne said.

Layne said she is not familiar with the name Nikki Shearer, but she is, in a way, following in the footsteps of the Burrell graduate, sprint standout and former WPIAL champion who wrapped up a strong career at Pitt in 2023. Shearer ran several events with the Panthers, including the 400.

Plum coach Matt Proskin said he is proud and happy Layne has found a solid landing spot in which to continue her academic and athletic pursuits.

“For Gabby, watching her develop and grow the past four years, it’s been great for the program and fun to watch her come into her own,” he said. “As a freshman, we could see she was a very talented athlete, but that alone doesn’t always put you on a good path if you don’t put in the work. But she did everything she needed to do to put her in position to excel.

“She is now reaping the rewards of that hard work. She is a great example and a great role model for kids to see what can be accomplished if you work hard and believe in your goals.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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