High school cross country: St. Joe's runners fighting injury bug

St. Joseph's girls cross country team has spent the entire season trying to get healthy.

With stellar juniors Andrea Chavez, Alex Shaw, Tauna DeHaan and Michelle Howe back from last year's 1A championship-winning team, many simply expected the Jayhawks to breeze their way to another title this fall.

But to this point, it's hardly been that straightforward.

Injuries have taken their toll on St. Joseph's title defence, and the Jayhawks simply hope to be able to get as healthy as possible by next month's state-championship meet.

That's not to say, however, that coach Lisa Reed is despairing. Blessed with the terrific junior class in her possession at the 1A level, Reed is just trying to keep her team humming along.

"They're a really close-knit team," said Reed. "They're very supportive of each other, and that's the nice thing about cross country — you don't have one runner; you have a team. That's why I love coaching it. They're good friends, and we come from a small school, so they're close."

Chavez echoed those sentiments.

"We're like a family," she said. "The good thing about our team is that we're so tight (that) we push each other on. It's not more of a competition between one another — it's more like a team sport. We're always there for each other."

That closeness has been particularly evident as the Jayhawks have tried to deal with injuries.

DeHaan, the team's No. 3, had been out for most of the season with a sprained ankle, and Shaw, the team's No. 2, went down a couple weeks ago with a knee problem.

Both stars recently started running again, however, and Reed will hope to be as healthy as possible by the end of the year.

And all along the way, she's going to enjoy the group of juniors in her program.

"It's amazing to have that group," she said.

FORMER SKYLINE SWIMMER HONORED: On the heels of a tremendous performance at the U.S. swim championships in which she qualified for the finals in the 100-meter breast and 200-meter breast, former Skyline High swimmer Sara Nicponski was recently named to the U.S. swimming team for 2009-10.

Nicponski starred at Skyline High from 2004 to 2007 and is the state record-holder in the 100-yard breast.

"This is a wonderful honor and privilege for her and a tribute to the endless hours of training she has put into swimming, which Skyline's current seniors witnessed firsthand," said Skyline swim coach Joe Pereira.