To describe junior Spartan runner Jess Butler, one word comes to mind — fighter.
With Butler’s impressive track and cross country resume, injuries have also played a role in her days at the University of Tampa.
A week after her first cross country race, Butler sustained a hip injury that ended up sidelining her for the rest of her cross country and track season.
Unsure of the injury, her first semester rehab was full of question marks. She tried therapy on the elliptical machine and with pool runs, but no method seemed to help.
As doctors became more aware of the injury, Butler underwent surgery in Dec. 2008. As Butler recovered from surgery, the following summer consisted of slowly getting back into running.
“I started on the treadmill for 30 minutes a day, leading to jogging five minutes three times a day and ending with running high mileage a week to rebuild the strength in my leg,” Butler said.
While the injury effectively ended her freshman year running seasons, her sophomore campaign was nothing but impressive.
Butler received All-SSC, All-South Region and SSC tournament honors.
Along with her conference achievements, she earned a third place finish at pre-nationals and placed 49th of 184 at the NCAA Championships.
With a phenomenal sophomore cross country season, her track record was also stellar. Butler received All-American honors at the 2010 NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships. Just as impressive as her performance, she was also named an All-Academic performer for 2010.
The All-American honor was a humbling experience for Butler.
“I was just in awe. Excitement took over my body because I knew all my hard work paid off,” she said.
Just when it seemed that Butler was fully recovered from her past injury, another problem arose this season.
Butler has now been sidelined with a high leg pull. The injury has caused frustration for her.
“It is definitely hard to be experiencing this again. I worked so hard over the summer and put in more miles than I ever had in my life,” Butler stated.
Butler has not raced for the Spartans this season, but she has received great support from her teammates and coaches.
“We need her personality and skills on the team. She’s an extremely smart and hard working runner, and we would love to have her back as soon as we can,” said sophomore cross country runner Kaia Hampton.
Butler believes that Coach Jarrett Slaven has been very supportive of her injury and really cares about her and the rehab process. For Coach Slaven, there is nothing negative to say about Butler and how she has been working hard to recover.
“She seems to accept the injury, but works very hard to rehab her leg. She is a fierce competitor and one of our hardest training runners,” Coach Slaven said.
Slaven and Butler both expect that she will return for the 2011 track season, although she will take one step at a time.
Similar to her freshman year injury, rehab has consisted of the same practices.
“I will wake up the same time everyone else will to go to practice, but I will head to the pool and do pool runs with one of our coaches. After that I use the elliptical at night for more exercise,” stated Butler.
As Butler continues to give the Spartans an uplifting attitude, the competition will also have to be prepared for her aggressive and talented running style.
With a healthy Butler running for the Spartans, expectations stay the same.
“When I am fully recovered, I will race like I usually do and go for the same goals. I’m excited,” stated Butler.
Michael Paonessa can be reached at mpaonessa@spartans.ut.edu.