Tag Archives: Carl Hook

Girls Cross Country

Injury causes hardship to cross country runner

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By Sydney Sears

Cross country member junior Haley Meyer watches her team sprint off in the distance wishing that she too could be a part of this experience, but for now it will have to wait.

Eight months ago Meyer noticed a discomfort in her leg and discovered that she had a stress fracture. Meyer was told by her doctor that she could not run for two months to allow time for her fracture to heal. As a passionate and disciplined runner, this pessimistic news was devastating.

“I am not able to run in practice or at meets, which sucks because I don’t get to be with my team,” said Meyer.

Teammate Junior Reagan Kurk sympathizes with Meyer.

“Injuries affect you in seemingly every way possible. The constant pain drains you and is tiring. Not being able to do what you love is one of the worst things in the world, especially when it seems like there’s nothing you can do to help it,” said Kurk.

Kurk raves that Meyer still puts in as much effort now as she did before her injury. She explains that Meyer shows up to every practice and cheers them, encouraging her team despite her injury.

Meyer’s cross country coach, Carl Hook, has supported her throughout this entire experience.

“I’ve just tried to encourage her to stay strong and make sure she understands that if you fight through a tough situation you emerge mentally tougher,” said Hook.

In the last eight months Meyer has not had one, but three stress fractures. This has caused more time away from running to heal.

“I know her stress fracture is hugely upsetting her, especially when she is one of the most active people I know,” said Kurk.

For this last fracture, which is located in her upper tibia, the recovery time is three weeks minimum. According to Meyer the recovery time depends on where the fracture is and how well it is taken care of.

Meyer has recently taken up alternatives to running such as running in the water, swimming, biking, and the elliptical.

“I also am trying to eat better to make myself more healthy and try to prevent this from happening again,” she said.

Kurk believes that Meyer is taking every precaution she can to get better and to prevent another fracture from occurring.

Not being able to run for months at a time is bound to stunt someone’s progress. Even with alternatives like swimming, the performance level will not be the same. Cross country runs six to seven days a week, so they are constantly working to get better. This has caused Meyer to suffer from her time off for healing.

“It has made me lose some of my endurance and strength in my legs,” said Meyer.

Hook explained that Meyer knows as a varsity runner that it will be tough to get her spot back after so much time off, but believes that she will snatch the spot right back up when she has the chance.

“An injury like any tough situation can either break you or make you. You either decide to give up or get stronger and as a runner that means swimming and cycling. Haley has worked hard at both of those to stay in shape and hasn’t given up,” said Hook.

 

Alyssa Book, Girls Cross Country, Sports

Girls’ cross country travels to semi-state

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By Alyssa Book

With leaves changing and fall starting, one team at FC wraps up a chapter of their season. At 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, the girls’ cross country team will travel to Brown County to compete in the Indiana semi-state competition.

The girls have advanced to semi-state, and the stakes rise this weekend as the state finals are now in close reach. Striding to the finish line could mean a possible state medal in the weeks to come.

With excitement and nerves surrounding the days leading up to one of the most crucial races of the season, coach Carl Hook said he tries to focus the girls by having them visualize the course, know their competition, and trying to keep them relaxed.

He has prepared the team mentally and physically for this tournament and feels like they are prepared.“The girls are ready and focused on running their best race of the season this weekend at semi-state and advancing to the state finals,” said Hook.

Hook sees Terre Haute South and Evansville North as the team’s biggest competition.

Junior Jamie Bierman thanks that Hook has prepared the team by leading them into this race with a positive attitude and workouts several weeks prior.

Bierman described this weekend as being a time for the team to prove themselves. “Winning isn’t possible for us at semi-state, but advancing to state is. Making it to state would prove all the hard work we’ve put into our running this season.”

Bierman knows she would not be where she is today if not for her teammates. “We think positive and encourage each other. Teamwork is a big thing in cross country because you can’t do this sport alone and have fun,” she said.

Senior Alyssa Moore is preparing for the meet by drinking enough water, getting enough rest, and eating right. With this being her last chance to race, Moore is putting forth her optimal effort.

Moore said there are certain people who have prepared her the most for this pivotal moment. “My coaches and teammates are ultimately the people who prepare and focus me the most. We push each other as teammates and the coaches have guided us here,” said Moore.

At 10:30 tomorrow morning, the results will show of the team’s goal can be fulfilled.

Bierman ended with saying what she wants the legacy of this 2012 season to be: “I want the legacy to be hardwork and dedication. This sport would be nowhere without these two things,” she said.

With the showdown so close, Moore said her team deserves to advance to the state competition. “We have been preparing since June 6. Everything we have done our whole season has all been for this moment.”

Girls Cross Country, Sports

Up to speed

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By Ty Elliott

In the dog days of summer, head coach Carl Hook has his girls’ cross country team warm up through the hallway of the athletic end of the school.  After warmups his squad takes off out towards the road and begin they their training for their upcoming meet. 

All of this training and many other practices have prepared them for their meet tomorrow at Brown County, a meet that Hook said is important to the girls.

“It is a big meet.  There will be several top 25 teams there and semi-state will be there.  We have to run well there,” said Hook.

Competing in a meet like the Brown County meet requires some great runners to compete.  Hook pointed out one of the best runners on the team, junior Alyssa Moore. Moore has her own expectations for the meet.

Moore said this team is getting better at a fast pace.

“We are running great; we are improving quickly,” she said.

Moore said this year’s squad has a different quality than teams in the past.

“We are a super big team; we are really close and we are all like sisters,” she said.

With the Hoosier Hills Conference fast approaching on Oct.1, the Superchicks have set their mark on winning the tournament.  Moore said the loss at HHC last season has fueled this year’s team motivation to win.

“We want to win.  We lost by one point last year.  It is a goal of ours to win,” she said.