Sports Comment: Cardenas gets back in the race

As she spent day after day with no signs of improvement, losing weight her slight frame couldn't afford to drop, the once happy-go-lucky girl began to lose hope.

"When I was sick I didn't think I was going to recover from it," Cardenas admitted. "I felt terrible and my self-esteem was down, and I didn't feel good at all."

But there was a bottom to the black hole. When things were at their worst, one day she felt better. Her steady decline turned around, and slowly but surely the resilient runner's health improved.

Pretty soon Cardenas was out of the hospital, then back at school, and finally, amazingly, back on the track.

Fast forward to Saturday, at the Class 3A/2A/1A state cross country meet in Eugene. Cardenas not only ran, not only ran well, but ran with the very best, taking fifth place in the meet and spending much of the course side-by-side with repeat champion Ashley Baldovino of Lakeview.

Umatilla coach Rick Wyland, who last spring didn't expect Cardenas to even be ready to run by the fall, said her recovery and attack of the state meet was nothing short of amazing.

"I have no idea how much weight she lost last spring, but she was so ill she was having trouble just sitting in a class," he said. "I honestly didn't know if I'd even have her out, so for her to not only run during track in the spring, and then to train in the summer, and then for this to happen - she's a pretty incredible little girl."

Though not overly thrilled with fifth place - she wanted fourth and another trip to the Border Clash - Cardenas did say she was thankful for the opportunity to be running again. And if any of the top four do decline to attend the Clash, she'll be the first alternate asked to go.

If that chance doesn't come, Cardenas can at least rest assured she'll have another chance next year at the Border Clash, the state title, and at beating Baldovino.

"I'm going to do everything I can to win this race, because I want it really bad," she said. "Next year I'm going to be able to train even harder and work harder."

After seeing her recovery and this year's finish, Wyland believes anything is possible. Though he noted she'll only have one more chance at a gold, he did say things look good for that possibility.

"The maturity is working because she's improving every year," he said. "She's getting more experience with tactics, she's not afraid to lead, not afraid to follow, she's just becoming a very complete runner."