Hillarie Kessler felt right at home last Saturday afternoon in Norman. The Deer Creek senior kept up with Bishop McGuinness’ Mary Kate Roy for much of the race, before eventually taking second in the Class 5A regional cross country meet.
While Kessler would have liked gold, she couldn’t help but smile. It’d been too long. After spending much of the season cheering on her teammates while nursing an injury, she was back on the course.
“That was a big confidence booster because I didn’t know how I was going to run and getting second was great,” Kessler said.
Deer Creek coach David Riden was also impressed with Kessler’s effort at regionals, and believes she can turn it up a notch during Saturday’s Class 5A state meet at Mitch Park.
“That was big,” Riden said. “To look at her run as strong as she did and to know that she hadn’t been running until that week I felt real good about that. I’m real optimistic that she can even improve on that at the state meet. She can finish it off, she’s so tough.”
Kessler’s senior year started out with great promise, as the two-time all-state runner won her first two meets of the season. But thing quickly took a turn for the worse in her third meet.
On Sept. 19, the Deer Creek girls headed to Joplin, Mo. for the Missouri Southern Stampede. Kessler again led the way for the Lady Antlers in the 5k race, but knew something was wrong the following day when she could barely walk due to the pain in her left shin.
While her MRI came up negative for a stress fracture, she was diagnosed with a severe bone bruise. Her doctor told her to take some time off, but thought she could be back for the final two meets of the season.
Kessler stayed away from the running for over a month, but it wasn’t exactly time off. Riden helped her developed a non-impact training routine that consisted of a 5 a.m. workout on an elliptical machine or exercise bike, followed up by afternoon workout in the pool.
“It’s a pretty inspiring story to see her come back like this, for most people it would have really got them down,” Riden said. “But to put in almost two hours a day before and after school is a lot. And I think it paid off, she looked real good at regionals. First race in five weeks and she’s second and leading it for most of the way.”
Along with her own workouts, Kessler also remained an active member of the team. She regularly attended team practices and meets, providing support for her young teammates.
“Everyday I didn’t have to do the pool or something I would stay after school and watch them run because encouraging them is really important,” Kessler said.
Kessler said she has been impressed by her teammates performance this season and believes they could make some noise at state. The senior has been especially thrilled by freshman Courtney Maichak, who took third at regionals.
“We want to get on the podium and it’s one of those things where we can do it if we all run well,” Kessler said. “We’ve been cutting back in workouts so we’re rested and we have a chance at getting top three.”
The Bishop McGuinness girls remain the favorite to win their sixth straight state title. Collinsville should be McGuinness’ toughest competition with Coweta, Bishop Kelley and Deer Creek likely battling for the next three spots.
The state cross country meet will begin at 10 a.m. with the 4A girls race. The event is set to conclude with the 6A boys race at 2:45 p.m.
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Deer Creek's Hillarie Kessler runs in the cross country meet at Oklahoma Christian University last season. Drew Harmon
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