Although they’ve gotten off to a winning start, Loyola’s cross-country team can’t seem to beat one opponent-injury.
Thoe injured runners are Patrick Gallagher, general studies freshman, Michael Corso, biological science junior, and Peyton Bock, business management sophomore.
Gallagher is still not in running condition, while Bock is getting back into race condition. Corso’s condition is in need of further evaluation.
Business management sophomore Peyton Bock explained that he pulled his calf muscle during a practice exercise in the spring.
“Back in March, I was doing a track workout, and it was cold and rainy, he said.
“We were doing 200 repeats, and we were on the last one. At the start of the gun I basically just pulled my calf.
Bock said he is “just coming back” from his injury by reducing the miles he’s running.
“Right now I’m just coming back, doing two miles a day. Sadly, I think that cross-country won’t be that successful for me, but I’m just looking to get better right now. I know I’ll be good by the start of track, so I’ll be fine, but for cross-country, I’m just looking to get through the season.”
On the women’s side, there aren’t any injuries that appear to be season-threatening. Although the women aren’t as set back by injury as the men, they still take time to address any injury that could pose an issue.
Elizabeth Gienger, management senior, said she has an ongoing trouble she has with tendonitis.
“I have IT band tendonitis, so I have to go to the trainer and get an ultrasound done on my leg, and use heating pads and a foam roller. It’s just something I have to keep up with and make sure it doesn’t get too bad, but it’s never kept me from running.”
Gienger also explained how the team deals with preventing injury before it becomes serious.
“Definitely if someone starts to feel that something’s not right, then we’ll usually put them in the pool or have them bike instead of run; just kind of relieve the pressure from your legs so it doesn’t make it worse.”
Even though all his runners are working towards recovery, Canegitta said he was unsure of Gallagher’s injury condition.
“He sees the doctor this week, so depending on what the doctor says we’ll have him back for conference, which is our last race,” he said “We have five guys, so we should still be competitive.”
Canegitta also added that if his remaining runners can stay healthy the team can still be successful.
“As long as the other guys that are healthy continue doing their job, they’re just going to kind of fit in and add on to what the other guys are doing,” he said. “As long as they’re healthy by conference, I’m fine with that.”
Jacob Stringer can be reached at [email protected]
