MONROE - Therese Hughes left many doctor appointments in tears as she searched for answers after an injury jeopardized her running career.
Hughes, a junior, had her track season last spring cut short by a stress fracture.
"They never thought I would run again," Hughes said. "Every time I left the doctor, I was crying."
She was diagnosed with exercise-induced compartment syndrome. Hughes has since changed her running style and it paid off as she finished 14th place at the Badger South Conference meet Saturday at Twining Park to earn second team all-conference honors.
"To come back and get all-conference, I'm really happy especially after I was two spots away last year," Hughes said.
Hughes said blood flow to muscles in her legs can be cut short with induced compartment syndrome. She completes strength exercises every day and has physical therapy several times a week. Hughes has also altered her running style.
"I used to run on my heel," she said. "Now, I run on the balls of my feet and more upright."
Monroe finished last in the seven-team conference meet. Oregon won the Badger South championship, outdistancing Stoughton 45-55. Edgewood swept the top two spots with sophomore Amy Davis claiming the individual conference title with a time of 15:27, 20 seconds ahead of teammate Courtney Link.
Monroe sophomore Alyssa Dale finished 34th (17:35) and freshman Kayla Einbeck was 35th (17:39). Junior Nicole Witt took 37th (17:45) and sophomore Kelley Baumann was 42nd (18:23).
"We are definitely getting better," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "If we would have run above average we would have probably finished sixth. The weather conditions were the worst of the day during the girls race. That may have contributed to the fact that we did not get any PRs of the 15 girls that ran. We still have a lot of potential to get better. We will leave knowing we still have work to do.
"We have asked our girls to try some new training and racing strategies and many of them are not used to them. We got out a little too fast and it cost a few girls their races. As a coaching staff, we are proud of how the girls reacted to adversity this year and tried anything that was asked of them."
Hirsbrunner is looking forward to how much more Hughes can improve with more experience.
"She has really come on as the season has progressed," Hirsbrunner said. "I'm really proud of her. I still think she has some great success to come yet."
Hughes, a junior, had her track season last spring cut short by a stress fracture.
"They never thought I would run again," Hughes said. "Every time I left the doctor, I was crying."
She was diagnosed with exercise-induced compartment syndrome. Hughes has since changed her running style and it paid off as she finished 14th place at the Badger South Conference meet Saturday at Twining Park to earn second team all-conference honors.
"To come back and get all-conference, I'm really happy especially after I was two spots away last year," Hughes said.
Hughes said blood flow to muscles in her legs can be cut short with induced compartment syndrome. She completes strength exercises every day and has physical therapy several times a week. Hughes has also altered her running style.
"I used to run on my heel," she said. "Now, I run on the balls of my feet and more upright."
Monroe finished last in the seven-team conference meet. Oregon won the Badger South championship, outdistancing Stoughton 45-55. Edgewood swept the top two spots with sophomore Amy Davis claiming the individual conference title with a time of 15:27, 20 seconds ahead of teammate Courtney Link.
Monroe sophomore Alyssa Dale finished 34th (17:35) and freshman Kayla Einbeck was 35th (17:39). Junior Nicole Witt took 37th (17:45) and sophomore Kelley Baumann was 42nd (18:23).
"We are definitely getting better," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "If we would have run above average we would have probably finished sixth. The weather conditions were the worst of the day during the girls race. That may have contributed to the fact that we did not get any PRs of the 15 girls that ran. We still have a lot of potential to get better. We will leave knowing we still have work to do.
"We have asked our girls to try some new training and racing strategies and many of them are not used to them. We got out a little too fast and it cost a few girls their races. As a coaching staff, we are proud of how the girls reacted to adversity this year and tried anything that was asked of them."
Hirsbrunner is looking forward to how much more Hughes can improve with more experience.
"She has really come on as the season has progressed," Hirsbrunner said. "I'm really proud of her. I still think she has some great success to come yet."
