Nicole Blood Injured, Has Left Saratoga Team

By Steve (steveu) Underwood

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 3/21/2005 - Saratoga Springs, NY, junior Nicole Blood Monday said an injury has halted her training and confirmed message-board rumors that she has left her high-school team, at least for now.

Blood, whose long list of accomplishments range from winning last spring's AOC Raleigh mile (4:42.40) to leading her team to the first Nike Team Nationals title with a 3 rd -place finish last fall, said she has been bothered by Illiotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) on her left knee. The injury gradually worsened through the Nike Indoor Nationals meet March 12-13.

"It had been kind of hurting me for a while, but I just wrapped it up and dealt with it," she said. "Then after nationals, it was really hurting. I could see it was inflamed after the 4x800."

In Maryland that weekend, Blood was part of a national record-setting 4xMile Relay team, anchoring the 19:59.24 with a 4:51, and also finishing second in the open mile (4:49.94) and running on that winning 4x8 team (9:20.34).

She decided in the week following the meet to leave the team. The timing of the injury "really stinks," she said, and she felt she could not do the training and racing at the level that would be required this spring. "I've decided to take some time off," she stated. "It's not going to work out this season. I want to start slowly when I get back. I don't know if I'll run at all this season."

Was this a mutual decision worked out with coaches Art and Linda Kranick? "Not really," she said. "There were other issues to deal with that I don't want to go into. The injury was the final thing. I think it was the best thing to do."

Blood concluded by saying she didn't know what was in store for her future, not closing the door for a return, but added that there wasn't truth to the rumor about her working with another coach. "I'm not looking into that. I'm on my own right now."

Coach Linda Kranick said, "Nicole has chosen a different path, and we wish her well."