A lot of coaches will tell you the sports of cross country is a process. That process was the test this season by Melcher-Dallas Runner J’Lyn Knutson. Last fall she was dealing with a hip flexor injury that limited her but still gutted out a state meet appearance. Then her spring was canned due to the pandemic but she still found time to run on her own, only to have the hip injury come back in the summer. Saints Coach Amy Stuart tells KNIA Sports, Knutson, while concerned about her ability to run effectively this fall, never lost hope that she would get her fourth state meet appearance.

Stuart:
“She was scared she was going to make things worse if she tired or how far she could push herself. She believed in the process and what we were trying to do and was able to come away for a fourth straight state meet.”

Knutson ended up 38th at last week’s class 1A State Meet. She will now start training for the spring track and field season, which she says she has a lot of goals after missing out last year.