Luther College star long distance runner Tricia Serres is back on track after setback

Tricia Serres runs an 800 meter race during a Luther College home track meet. (Text and photos by Decorahnews.com's Bob Modersohn)

Luther College junior Tricia Serres is back in step with her winning strides after recovering from an injury during the indoor season.  She's already posted the third best 1,500 meter run time in the nation this spring among NCAA Division III runners.

Her injury, common among runners, was to her iliotibial band (IT), a thick muscle crossroads running along the outside of the leg from hip to knee. Her injury occurred just before New Year's while home in Platteville, Wisconsin, for school break.  It kept her sidelined most of January and February.  Part of this time she not only was unable to run, but couldn't cross-train at all.  Even walking was painful.  That's only two months ago.

When you're used to running six days a week for 30 minutes to an hour, "it wasn't very fun," remembered Serres minutes before a recent 800 meter race.

"In her case, it was not healing even with just a little cross training so she had to be very careful and not do any training at all for a while," said her coach, Yarrow Romero Moench Pasche.

It wasn't until March that she was able to mix running into her physical therapy and cross training. She worked closely with Luther College athletic trainers and in physical therapy at Winneshiek Medical Center. Her attention to detail, willingness to do all the little exercises and great patience got her through this tough time, said her coach.  And now, Serres' healing right leg is a little tight, but otherwise there's only normal racing soreness.

Highlights of Serres' college accomplishments: 2014 NCAA Indoor Track National Championships: 2nd in the mile and 3rd in the 3,000 meter run.  Her indoor 3,000 personal record of 9:35.28 is the 9th fastest in Div. III history.   At outdoors nationals last spring she was 2nd in the 1,500 (PR of 4:23.46).  She's also a 2-time all-American in cross country and a 5-time all-American in indoor and outdoor track. And she's not finished yet.

Serres' favorite place to run: "I'd be picturing myself in the trails (around campus and along the Upper Iowa River)...I'm so happy to be running."

Tricia Serres and young Oak Pasche cheer on Luther College runners.

Tricia Serres uses a roller device to loosen her thighs and calves.

Serres gets into her racing shoes. The black kinesio tape on her leg offers a little more support to her healing IT band.

Serres laces up her racing shoes.