Mars Hill Runner Head Overcomes Adversity
January 18, 2006

Courtesy Danny Daniels, The Walton Tribune (Monroe, Ga.)

MARS HILL, N.C. — Coaches preach that athletic builds character and character helps through adversity.

Former Monroe Area Comprehensive High School cross country and track star Elizabeth Head is proof the theory certainly holds water.

Head ran four years for MAHS coach Ron Coleman until her graduation in 2003. In the summer of 1999 doctors discovered two curves in Head’s spine. One hip was higher than the other and one shoulder blade stuck out farther than the other one. The problem eventually led to scoliosis surgery, even though Head said she never experienced much pain or discomfort until after the surgery.

Two rods and 16 hooks were inserted into her spine. The operation caused Head to miss only a couple months of her freshmen cross country season. Did the teenager ever think about giving up running or at least taking a break for a year or two?

“No, I never did,” said Head. “I had to be released in stages by the doctor. I began by walking. I would first walk to the end of the driveway, then to the end of the road as I followed his advice on what I could do in each stage.”

Head eventually became able to walk with the Monroe team while they ran and finally was allowed to run in mid-October.

“I wasn’t competitive at all but I did get back into a little bit of shape,” she said.

By the time spring rolled around, Head was able to participate in track and field, concentrating on the mile and two-mile events. She worked her way up to become one of the top runners on the cross country squad.

Upon graduation from high school, Head began to look for a college with a strong music department. Mars Hill College coach Mike Owens was adamant about Head coming to the Division II institution.

“I didn’t know what I was capable of at the college level but the idea of competing at one of the strongest small schools in cross country was very appealing to me,” Head said.

Head helped lead the Lions to a runner-up finish this season in the South Atlantic conference. MHC went on to win the region title and advance to the nationals in Pomona, Calif. Head, now a junior, was fifth on the team at nationals. She is now preparing for the indoor track season.

What adversity?