THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012
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CROSS COUNTRY
Perseverance pays off after multiple injuries
NATHAN FORDYCE
nfordyce@kansan.com
The will to succeed is greater than the fear of failing.
You hear that saying all the time when it comes to athletes. Their heart and drive allows them to continue to fight through any obstacles that get in their way. Whether it's a thrashing by an opponent, possible cut from the team or injuries, athletes usually have the will to get over that barrier.
Jayhawks' junior Natalie Becker is no different. She has dealt with injuries every year she's been at the University, including this year.
But this year was different for Becker than in years past because there was speculation on whether she would be a part of the cross country team. Once she found out there was a possibility she might not be on the team, her will to succeed fought its way forward.
"Confidence comes out, and I know I want to compete. It'd be easy to say that I'm done and that
I don't want to do this anymore," Becker said. "The want to compete has driven me."
During the summer, Becker found out she had a stress fracture in her foot that was going to cause her to miss training time, and potentially the whole season.
The injury frustrated Becker, but she wasn't ready to give up.
"There was no doubt in my mind that I'd be back," she said.
Then another setback came when the MRI showed inflammation, which could sideline her for a few more weeks.
"When I found out that all my injuries were delayed, I felt that all my hard work had been for nothing." Becker said. "But then I just told myself that, yeah, I can still come back."
Assistant coach Michael Whittlesey said Becker has shown great commitment and perseverance through everything and has had to answer very tough questions within herself.
"A lot of times when you go
through what she has gone through, you start to question how much you want it," Whittlesey said. "You have to answer that because you have to work that much harder and stay that much more focused than everyone else."
through the months that Becker has been training and trying to get back to full health, Whittlesey said he could see the determination within Becker become real once more.
"You could see that spark back in her eyes that said, 'Yeah, I still have it.'" Whittlesey said. "It's the fire that's within her pushing to her to get back."
Becker said she has learned a lot while being faced with injuries and had the realization that cross country might not be there tomorrow.
"I don't take any workout for granted," Becker said. "I know it could be taken away just like that because it has happened before."
- Edited by Stéphane Roque
Junior distance runner Natiete Becompter competes in the Bob Timmons Invitational Cross Country on Sept. 1. Becker had a stress fracture in her foot and wasn't sure if she would be on the team this year.
JEFF JACOBSEN / KU ATHLETICS