Plant’s Kennedy has torn knee cartilage

Posted Oct 6, 2009 by Bill Ward

Updated Oct 6, 2009 at 03:22 PM

Plant senior cross country star Kayla Kennedy, the Tampa Tribune’s girls runner of the year last fall, has a torn meniscus is her knee and is expected to undergo surgery in hopes of salvaging her season, Panthers coach Roy Harrison said Tuesday.

Kennedy has been suffering from knee pain since early August but has still managed to put in limited training and run in two races for Plant, which is one of the state’s top-ranked squads in Class 4A. She has been having physical therapy on the knee but when the pain continued, she had a MRI performed. The results showed a partially torn meniscus, which is a rupturing of one or more of the knee’s fibrocartilage called menisci.

Harrison said Kennedy could have the surgery performed within the next two days and could return to running within two weeks. That could allow her to run in the minimum requirement of four meets prior to the start of district competition. If not, Kennedy would apply for a medical hardship waiver from the Florida High School Athletics Association, Harrison said. Already, Plant boys standout Trenor Wilkins, an all-state performer who is recovering from stress fractures in both legs, has received a medical waiver to compete in the postseason.

Kennedy is the defending champion of the Hillsborough County meet and is a two-time member of the Tribune’s first team all-county girls squad.