Crystal Nelson will not compete in cross country this season for Iowa State, according to a report in the Iowa State Daily. The senior finished seventh at the NCAA Championships last fall and led the #9 Cyclones to a runner-up team finish.

According to the Daily, #15 Nelson suffered an injury during the track season, among other difficulties. She raced only once during the indoor season, finishing fifth at the Big 12 Indoor 5K in 16:24. She holds a personal best mark of 15:49 in the event. Women’s head coach Andrea Grove-McDonough is quoted within the article stating, “We’ve gone ahead and decided that she’s definitely out for this season.”

Without Nelson, the Cyclones will have a difficult time earning a top four podium finish in November. Katy Moen, eighth in the NCAA last fall, graduated in the spring. They return 2014 finishers Bethanie Brown (53rd), Perez Rotich (65th) and Erin Hooker (180th) and will rely on key newcomers Becky Straw and Annie Frisbee to step up in Nelson's absence.