Injury has never stopped Josh McCabe
The cross country team should be thankful for Josh McCabe.
McCabe, a 5-foot-11-inch junior from Springville, is a star runner for the team. He has gone through many down times in his career because of injury, but injury has never stopped McCabe from working hard and getting better.
McCabe was recruited by other in-state schools Utah State and Southern Utah, but came to run with UVU.
Since arriving home from an LDS mission two and a half years ago, McCabe has been injured for almost an entire year within that time, breaking his toe, bruising his knee very badly and getting Iliotibial Band Syndrome, one of the leading causes of lateral knee pain in runners.
“I would never say that I am immune to injuries,” McCabe said. “This season I’ve had aches and pains, some that have scared me and others that were not so scary.”
After receiving treatment for ITBS in Park City this summer, McCabe ran about 650 miles to get ready for this season.
Despite injury, McCabe has been focusing on this season and feels very healthy.
“I envision myself passing runners at the end of a race and winning,” McCabe said. “You have to be confident and mentally tough.”
As a freshman, McCabe was named to the GWC First Team All-Conference. As a sophomore, he was named a GWC First Team All-Conference selection.
McCabe was also the Wolverine’s top finisher in three of the six races during his sophomore year. He placed fourth overall at the GWC Cross Country Championships running on the famed Van Cortland Park with a time of 26:30.22 over the 8k course, in which he helped the team win its first conference championship.
McCabe won his first meet at the Wyoming Invitational this season and was two seconds away from breaking the course record. At the Wyoming Invitational, McCabe’s time was 21:44 in a 4.25-mile race.
“My goal is to go to Nationals to represent UVU and the team,” McCabe said. “I want to perform well and it’s not all about the individual, it’s about the team. A champion is made from the inside. If you work hard, believe in yourself and have faith, then you will have success.”
