Ingersoll runs on pure determination
November 2, 2008
By John Vellante, Globe Correspondent
At 5 feet, 11 inches and 140 pounds, Kyle Ingersoll has what Massachusetts Maritime Academy coach Chris Ryan calls "the perfect cross-country body."
That's the view on the outside. Inside is a completely different story. His right lung, once collapsed, is still dotted with three cysts that must be surgically removed sooner rather than later.
With his doctor's approval, Ingersoll ran through the occasional pain, and last weekend earned all-Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference honors for the second straight year with a fifth-place finish at the MASCAC championships. This weekend, the former Stoneham High athlete was hoping to add New England honors to his resume.
Ingersoll's first three years on the Buzzards Bay campus were uneventful. Last summer that he began feeling severe pain on the right side of his back near his shoulder blades every time he ran. At Winchester Hospital, X-rays revealed he had a partially collapsed right lung and three cysts, one of which moved to the outer lining of the lung and burst.
The timing could not have been worse. A week later, Ingersoll reported to Marine Officers Candidate School in Quantico, Va. He failed his medical exam and was sent home.
"That was most disappointing because I had prepared more than a year to get myself into shape," the 21-year-old said. "I was told that the lung would heal itself and that there was only a 25 percent chance it could collapse again. This is my senior year and I am the team's captain and I wanted to be there for my teammates and I had personal goals I wanted to achieve. Everyone agreed the surgery could wait until the season was over. The doctor said running was OK, but advised against scuba diving, flying, or bungee jumping."
Ingersoll was determined to repeat as an all-conference runner. And he did when he traversed the 8K course at Stanley Park in Westfield in 26 minutes, 59.35 seconds. His fifth place helped Mass. Maritime to a fourth-place finish.
"Taking all things into consideration, this has been a most rewarding year," said Ingersoll. "I've battled through nagging injuries before, muscle pulls and things like that, but never anything as serious as a collapsed lung. So to come back and be the top runner on the team and turn in my best MASCAC time ever, was very special."
Ryan, who said he would not have allowed Ingersoll to run without assurances from the doctor, admires his senior captain for his focus and dedication.
"He really wants to succeed," said Ryan. "Everything about him is advancing his life. He is a great young leader, and his teammates feed off him. They see how hard he works. It's great when your best athlete is your hardest-working athlete. That's a great gift for a coach.