There at the finish line
What would a cross country runner be without his or her health?
The evidence over the years is compelling given the numbers of runners who have had seasons cut short by injury or illness.
Who, for instance, remembers Anna Layman’s cross country debut for Central Valley, finishing 13th in state as a freshman in 2002?
“I was absolutely thrilled,” said her coach, Dennis McGuire. “I thought, ‘Oh, my gosh, this is the athlete I’ve dreamed about.’ “
His dreams and hers would be dashed when Layman fell off the radar the next two seasons because of injuries. Who knew if she would come back?
“Watching a kid work hard and get hurt is the most frustrating thing on earth,” McGuire said. “There’s always the fear, ‘If I get after it, am I going to get hurt again?’ “
But healthy at last, the CV senior has become one of this year’s best comeback stories.
She has been, all season, the Greater Spokane League’s second-fastest runner, behind state title contender Megan O’Reilly. A state track champion, O’Reilly also had a cross country season cut short last year by a late-season injury. Like Layman, the Mt. Spokane senior has been healthy all fall and put up phenomenal times, last weekend nearly breaking 17 minutes on the fast Deer Park Golf Course layout.
“I thought she could,” said O’Reilly’s coach, Sean Linder. “She wants to show that she’s finally a national contender.”
Both Layman and O’Reilly will be among the favorites to place high Saturday during the 4A girls cross country meet in Pasco. They bring freshman- and sophomore-oriented teams with them.
Their first meet this season at CV provided indication that both Layman and O’Reilly were back. The latter toyed with the field – as she has all year – and Layman finished 30 seconds behind in second place.
Both expressed relief at the time, crediting their health to new orthotics in their shoes.
“It’s nice to get back in the groove,” said Layman. “So far, so good.”
Said O’Reilly, “I’m feeling better than last year at this time. I’m stretching a lot more and when I feel something I think kind of hurts, I go in the swimming pool and run.”
Layman fancied herself a sprinter when she arrived at CV. She still holds middle-school records in the 100 and 200, but also was the league’s cross country champ.
“McGuire always told me I was a distance runner and decided to try it,” Layman said. “I wanted to stay in shape for track. During the middle of my first cross country season I just decided maybe there is a little more distance in me.”
Her first state meet foretold potential greatness. Then came the injuries shortly thereafter, affecting her cross country and track careers. Last year it was plantar faciitis, a heel injury, that shortened her season.
“It was disappointing. I trained and worked hard and all of a sudden an injury would come along and it was like my season was done with,” Layman said. “Ice, ice, ice, that’s about all I could do.”
Layman runs this weekend in what she said is her final cross country season. She’ll concentrate on the middle distances in college, fulfilling the promise McGuire recognized years ago.
“I felt so sad for her,” said CV’s longtime coach. “I told myself she will be the best athlete I’ve had in 22 years – since Annette Hand left. Anna could have done it all along, but it’s tough to run in pain.”