Heather Gibson
PHS CLASS OF 1998
Gibson, a 1998 PHS graduate, earned three (3) varsity letters in Cross Country, two (2) varsity letters in Track, and one (1) varsity letter in water polo. She began cross country as a sophomore where she led the team to a third place in the NCS finals and placed 25th in the state. In her junior year, Heather led the cross-country team and dominated the ACCAL Cross Country league by winning every league race where she competed. She set a new course record in the league finals at the Joaquin Miller cross country course shattering the old record by almost 30 seconds; a record that stood for many years. Her course record helped the team win the league title that year. Gibson continued her winning ways at the NCS finals, winning the championship by 30 seconds. Her victory led the PHS women’s team to second place in NCS which also qualified the team for the state championship meet. At state, she placed 6th with a time of 19:38, leading the PHS women’s team to 6th place at State. Heather was injured at a running camp the summer after her Junior year and was unable to repeat her accomplishments in X-C that fall as a senior. She still placed 15th at the NCS meet (2nd on her team). Gibson was a three (3) time All-League recipient from 1995-1997 and additionally was selected to the 1996 All-NCS team. Heather ran the 3200 in track at PHS, qualifying for the Meet of Champions in the springs of 1997 and ’98. She earned an athletic scholarship to attend U.C. Davis. At U.C. Davis Gibson continued to excel in X-C and track, becoming a four (4) time All American, twice in cross country and twice in track. At UC Davis, Heather helped the Aggies win the cross country CCAA championship and qualify for the DII NCAA national championships all four years. In 2000, Heather was a big part of UCD’s 3rd place overall D II national finish, placing 20th (2nd on her team) and earning her first All American honors. UCD again placed 3rd nationally in 2001, with Heather placing 3rd on her team and 25th overall. She was voted MVP of the cross-country team in 2000 and 2001. In track, Gibson qualified in the 5k for the NCAA DII National Championships in 2000. In 2001, the NCAA finally decided that the steeple chase was no longer “too dangerous” for women to run. She dominated the CCAA in the steeple chase and 5k in 2001 and 2002. At the CCAA championship meet in 2002, she won both the steeple chase (setting a new record in the event) and the 5K. She qualified for the NCAA DII National Championships in both 2001 and 2002 in the steeplechase. She placed 3rd nationally in 2001 and 2nd in 2002, earning All-American honors both years. In addition to being chosen MVP of the women’s track team those years, she was also voted “most inspirational” by her teammates in 2002. She furthered her education at the Santa Clara University School of Law, graduating in 2005. However, Heather continued competitive running during and after law school. She qualified for and competed in the 2004 US Olympic trials in the steeplechase. After law school, she focused on the 10K. She placed 9th at the USATF championships in Indianapolis in 2006, qualifying as an alternate for the US Team for the Pan American games. In 2008, she focused on the Olympic Trials. In the spring of 2008, she ran an “A” time putting her in the top 22 female 10K runners in the country and qualifying her for the 2008 US Olympic trials. Gibson became an attorney licensed to practice in California, and in 2012 after working for several law firms, started her own law firm in Santa Clara, focusing on fighting health insurance companies who do not pay their members' medical bills even when they should be covered under the applicable policies. She received an outstanding service award from the Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association, and now litigates in state and Federal courts, and has successfully taken numerous cases to trial. Gibson is married to Jon Burke with two children: a son, Thomas and daughter, Jaye.
More photos of Heather below:
