High school cross country: Bone break sidelines star Rohrer

MISHAWAKA - The sport of high school cross country took a major hit Thursday.

Anna Rohrer is out for the season.

The Mishawaka junior - the defending state and national champion in girls cross country - was diagnosed with a broken bone in her left foot. Doctors estimate the injury will keep her from running for at least eight weeks.

"Obviously, we're all devastated here," said Mishawaka coach Chris Kowalewski, who broke the news to his team Thursday afternoon. "This is a nightmare for our team, but we will figure out a way to get through it."

Rohrer, who clocked the fastest 5,000-meter cross country race in Indiana history just two weeks ago - 16:52.25 - underwent MRI testing on Wednesday after complaining of soreness in her foot on Labor Day.

The test revealed a deep crack in a small bone which - if she continued running - could have split the bone in half, requiring major surgery.

"It's the same injury she had as a freshman, only this time, it's the other foot," said Kowalewski.

As a freshman, Rohrer competed in a few races but had to stop running for several months following the New Prairie Invitational.

As a sophomore, she made it through the season injury-free and won both the Indiana girls state title and Foot Locker national championship.

Last Saturday, Rohrer competed at the Penn Hokum-Karem. Though she experienced some slight pain beforehand, she reported no real problems until Monday.

"The doctors feel the injury has probably been there for several weeks, even before our first race (the Viking Stampede in Dowagiac)," said Kowalewski. "It finally just got to the point where it bothered her."

"We think it's a mechanical issue," added Kowalewski. "She has an unusual stride, and it's putting stress in places where most runners don't have that kind of stress."

At this point, it is unknown when Rohrer may resume training.