×

McDonald’s Jamison running her way past illness

Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo McDonald’s Ally Jamison has battled back from an illness and will run Saturday in the district cross country meet.

BAZETTA — Ally Jamison started the 2016 track and field season like anyone else: expectations of improving, staving off the early April weather, not getting injured.

The latter wasn’t an option, but not in the way one might imagine.

The McDonald junior distance runner began having severe headaches and eventually lost her sight. The symptoms were temporary, but they were running-induced.

Jamison, who was part of the the Blue Devils 4×800-meter relay team, ended her season after just two meets.

Doctors were not able to pinpoint the problem, only to tell her running wasn’t in her best interest. Then again, running at that level, pushing her body to extraordinary lengths, also might be a distant memory.

Her blood pressure was plummeting, so doctors gave Jamison medication to reverse the effect. Diagnosis? There was none for some time, but a few weeks ago, she did get some more answers: different medication.

Her vertebrae ratcheted up and panic attacks ensued, causing Jamison excruciating pain. Doctors eased her pain and, eventually, she was cleared to run with the team.

“Originally, they told her she would never get to push herself and compete,” McDonald coach Mike Richards said. “Just as a young lady, I’m glad to see her compete. As a team, it gives us a nice boost seeing her come back.”

Jamison took things slowly this summer, keeping her workouts contained to a stationary bike at Woodland Park as the other girls ran around the shaded course and mustered their way up Billy Goat Hill.

“I do have to work on my endurance a little bit, but I feel like I am in pretty good shape because I do so much cross training with the bike,” Jamison said.

It led her to the Suburban League cross country championships Sept. 20 at the Canfield Fairgrounds. She started running again. This time it resulted in 23 minutes, 19 seconds — far from her past performances.

Jamison had clocked 19:30.50, her personal best, at the 2015 Legends Race at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds.

At this year’s Legends Race, on Oct. 8, she placed 51st and saw 20:24.40 flash above her as her feet touched the teal blue mat, triggering the electronic pulse signaled from the chip on her shoe — which then etched her time into the results.

“I really don’t have expectations,” Jamison said. “I do have more to give. I keep that in the back of my mind while I’m running. I’m a little upset to not be where I was last year, but I feel if I keep training hard and pushing, I’ll eventually get to that point again.”

She’s reached this point with the assistance of her best friend and teammate — fellow junior Malina Mitchell. The two have taken bicycle rides around the quiet streets of McDonald.

Mitchell knows of pain and personal loss. She knew how it felt when she was struck by a car last winter and needed to rehabilitate her injured leg back into running shape.

“I just try to give her my support and stay positive,” Mitchell said. “I’ve never been through a health issue like that. Any time you have an injury, people support you. When I had an injury to my leg, she was the first one there for me.

“I felt like it was my job to return the favor and just be there, cross training, whatever, going on bike rides, anything to help.”

The postseason begins Saturday with the district meet back at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds, with the Division III girls race at 3:30 p.m.

Jamison is aware if it weren’t for the power of her best friend and her teammates giving her the nudges needed, this comeback might not be reality.

“She is the reason I’m basically back where I am,” Jamison said. “The last two races I didn’t have that great of races, but they’re there for me and that’s great.”

Jamison was a key figure in the Blue Devils’ 2014 state championship. She was the team’s sixth runner as a freshman and came in with a much faster time than Garaway’s sixth runner — breaking a 113-all deadlock after the team’s first five runners broke the plane at the finish line.

Her distance running started to take shape last season as she neared the 19-minute mark — being part of McDonald placing third at state.

This season is more of a road to recovery, which seems more complete with every step Jamison takes.

“I just learned that there’s a plan for me and everything happens for a reason,” she said. “This will only make me better I believe.

“In the long run, it will give me a story — something to look back on and move forward from.”

Another chapter in her novel is to be penned on Saturday.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
     

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today