TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Since the beginning of November, Katie Rainsberger has shunned her social media accounts to focus on running her best as a freshman at the University of Oregon during November’s championship season.
Before the regional meet on Nov. 11 in Sacramento, Calif., fell ill, requiring chest X-rays and antibiotics, said her mother, Lisa.
But she slowly recovered, and, on Saturday, had the race of her career, finishing fourth overall to lead the Oregon Ducks to a stunning upset win in the women’s team race by one point over Michigan — 125-126. .
“I don’t think it was something I went into the race thinking could happen,” Katie Rainsberger said in an interview. “But I thought if we played our cards right and everything came together, that something special could happen.”
It was the highest placing ever by a first-year woman in Oregon’s storied cross country program. Her team was ranked only No. 12 in the coaches poll entering the meet, making it .
This season, Rainsberger was fifth at the Pac-12 conference meet and named freshman of the year. She finished 11th at regionals.
“She was rebounding early in the week,” Lisa Rainsberger said of her illness. “She said, ‘Mom, I think this is going to be a blessing.’ Every time we talked or texted, she was feeling better every day. She was thinking maybe top 10. For her to pull herself to fourth in such good company was just an indication of how much heart she has.'”
Results for the women’s race — — took some 45 minutes as meet officials doubled checked places because of the close result. In the end, it came down to Oregon’s 64th-place runner and Michigan’s 65th place — .
“I feel best when I’m within a point of seeing whatap going on in front of me, and I wanted to put myself in the best position I could,” Katie Rainsberger said. “The team is beyond excited and we’re all so proud of how we competed. We’re proud of each other. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
