Megan Goethals out for Cross Country Season

Sep 17, 2013 by Ryan Sterner

The fifth ranked Washington Husky women will be without their number one runner this fall, as senior Megan Goethals was diagnosed with a femoral stress fracture late last week. The announcement came just two days before Washington’s season opener at the Sundodger Invitational, where the women nearly perfect scored the race.

Friday13th didn't dissapoint- MRI came back with bad news+i wont be racing this yr. Going to spend this time home with my mom #silverlining

— Megan Goethals (@GadgetGoethals) September 13, 2013

Goethals is coming off her most successful NCAA season of her career. In the fall, she barely missed All-American honors en route to leading the Huskies to a 9th place finish at NCAAs. She earned two more All-American certificates after attempting the 5k/10k double in Eugene, finishing 5th and 4th, respectively.

Her return to Washington for her senior year, however, wouldn't be as kind. The detection of the stress fracture came suddenly. Via Twitter, Goethals said she experienced some pain on Thursday, and the stress fracture was confirmed with an MRI on Friday. Recovery time for stress fractures of the femur, generally compared to concrete when referencing its integrity, can range from 8 to 16 weeks before running is allowed.

The injury, however, has an upside for Goethals. It recently came to our attention that Megan’s mother, Diane, was diagnosed with breast cancer. The injury will allow Goethals to head back to the Midwest and spend some much needed time with her family. You can help her family out by checking out this webpage.

“Megan has been the best teammate in the world and one of the toughest runners I’ve ever seen, so for her to show up this week ready to go and then have this injury happen is incredibly disappointing for her,” Head Coach Greg Metcalf stated in a UW press release. “But the one positive is that she will get to have some more time with her mother and her family.”

Meanwhile, back in Seattle, the Lady Huskies will have some big shoes to fill.