Sarah Leganski is trying not to panic.
The senior finally returned to the Hinsdale South cross country team after missing most of the season, but there are only a few weeks left before the Class 2A sectional.
Leganski came into the season as Hinsdale South’s top returning runner. But due to a long recovery from a bout of mononucleosis, she didn’t run until Oct. 4 at the Niles West’s Savage Invitational, where she placed 46th (20:16.83). She also raced Oct. 6 in a dual meet against Downers South.
“It’s still hard. Definitely, because this is my senior year I wanted to set goals to do well and break my personal record,” said Leganski, a Darien resident. “I think of this as a little setback. I’m happy I’m running again.”
Leganski was 35th last season when she made her Class 2A state meet debut in Peoria. She planned on doing even better this season, but started feeling sick around Labor Day, a few days before the cross country opener Sept. 2 at the Plainfield North Invitational.
She missed that meet, but returned to practice the next day. But Leganski felt a cramp in her left side after returning from a workout Sept. 3 at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve.
“I knew something was not right. What bothered me was my spleen. I knew it because I took an anatomy 2 class,” Leganski said.
When her eyes also felt puffy, Leganski knew she had mono. Her older brother John, a 2009 Hinsdale South grad, contracted mono at the end of his senior year. After she got her tests back from the doctor, Sara Leganski talked to her older brother, who now lives in Washington, D.C.
“Luckily, I didn’t miss school,” Sarah Leganski said. “My dad [Gerry] said I would miss 2-4 weeks [of cross country]. I know I was told no physical activity for two weeks.
The toughest part was missing the Hornet-Red Devil Invitational Sept. 6 and the Oak Park-River Forest Invitational Sept. 27. Her inability to train set her back.
At first, Leganski went to practices just to watch her teammates, until her parents and coach Gail Huster suggested she stay home and rest.
“She feels good, but a little sore, which is to be expected,” Huster said. “She is working out strong with her teammates, who are glad to have her back.”
At Niles West, Leganski kept pace with junior teammate Sydney Locke (20:28.25), who placed 57th. Freshman Elizabeth Lowery (19:58.60) pulled away to finish 32nd for ninth-place Hinsdale South (213).
Leganski and Locke, who both attended Concord School and Cass Jr. High, have become good friends and train together at team practices. Locke said the two of them run the Darien Dash and both played softball and soccer with the Darien Youth Club.
“I look up to her a lot since she’s a senior,” Locke said. “It’s good that she’s back finally. Conference is Saturday (at Addison Trail) and she doesn’t have much time. She ran two weeks prior to the Niles West Invitational and did well.
“She’s a great leader. She’s passionate and loves to run.”
Hinsdale South competes in the Rosary Regional Oct. 25 at Marmion and in the Wheaton Academy Sectional Nov. 1 at Kress Creek Farms in West Chicago.
