Nicole Capparell will head to Hershey on Saturday for the PIAA Cross Country Championships, just like she’s done the past three years.

Already a decorated runner, the Marian senior will look to cap a stellar high school career with something that has eluded her in three previous trips to states.

But a state medal really isn’t the prize this weekend.

That Capparell is returning to Hershey once again is an accomplishment in itself.

“For the past two years, I’ve had slipping-rib syndrome,” she said. “I had to get the eighth, ninth and 10th on the right side, and ninth and 10th on the left side, and the intercostal cartilage removed. They had to shave my seventh ribs on both sides, and I have plates in both sides now.”

Capparell missed the spring track and field season because of the procedure, and didn’t start running again until around the time the cross country season began.

“So it was really hard trying to get back into training because I didn’t have track to get that back,” Capparell admitted. “It was really hard. I was just able to start running when practice started, so I felt like I was far behind.”

Capparell managed the discomfort as best she could – and for as long as she could.

“It was really painful the past two years, because they really weren’t sure what was wrong,” said Capparell. “So it was really painful because my ribs used to slide, and cross, and pinch on the nerves.”

It took countless doctors’ appointments over those two years before Capparell was able to identify the issue.

“It was my sophomore year that things started popping and just not feeling right,” Capparell recalled. “And then it got worse and worse; it got really bad. I had to go to a surgeon in Virginia, and he’s the one who diagnosed me.

“He diagnosed me, but he wasn’t comfortable doing the surgery. So the only one who would do it was a surgeon in Arizona. So I had to fly out there because she’s the only one that specializes in it, and could do it.”

All Capparell wanted was to run, and to be able to do it pain-free, something the procedure has allowed her to do for the most part.

“It’s definitely 100 times better now,” she said with a smile. “I feel so much better. The only thing that causes a little pain are the plates, but I’ve gotten pretty much used to them now, which is pretty nice. Now, I can’t even compare it. It’s so much better.

“I didn’t realize how much I was going to miss running, and I really missed it. I didn’t realize how much I was used to it. It was weird not going to practice, and getting up and running.”

Capparell has hit her stride as the season has moved along. She earned a sixth-place finish at the Schuylkill League meet, and place third at last week’s District 11 event to qualify for states.

“I’m so happy. This was the goal, to get back for cross country,” said Capparell. “My ultimate goal would be to medal, but we’ll just see how the race goes, I guess. I’m excited, very excited. Anything could happen.”

Regardless of her finish on Saturday, Capparell’s season has already been a success.

**********

THE LAST TIME … Tina Capparell — Nicole’s older sister — put a bow on a remarkable career by winning the girls’ Class A race in 19:01 in 2017. She was the only area medalist a year ago.

**********

COMING BACK … Along with Nicole Capparell, Northern Lehigh’s Reagan Pender, Palmerton’s Jake Martinez, Weatherly’s Scotty Zoscin and the Northwestern girls’ team will be heading back to states this year. Nicole Capparell was 53rd in the Class A race a season ago, while Pender placed 48th in the Class 2A event. The Tigers finished sixth overall in the Class 2A team standings. Martinez was 60th, and Zoscin 92nd, in the Class A boys’ race. Martinez will be competing in the Class 2A event this season.

**********

NEWCOMER … Zoscin will be joined by teammate Frankie Willis in Hershey. The freshman took seventh and grabbed the fifth and final qualifying spot with a time of 18:31 in the District 11 Class A race last week.

**********

THAT’S DIFFERENT … Per the PIAA, “The 2018 Cross Country Championships will be run on the backup course due to wet conditions and anticipated weather later this week. The change is after the final road crossing. The course will be identical to the one run at the 2018 Foundation Race.”

We’ll find out how — or if — the revised layout alters the racing on the Parkview Cross Country Course near the Giant Center once runners take off on Saturday morning. An updated course map is available on the PIAA’s website.

**********

MARK IT DOWN … The following is a list of start times for Saturday’s races:

• Class A girls (9:30 a.m.); Class 2A girls (10:15 a.m.); Class 3A girls (11 a.m.); Class A boys (11:45 a.m.); Class 2A boys (12:30 p.m.); Class 3A boys (1:15 p.m.).

**********

HOW MANY? … The championship and the runner-up teams in each class, both girls and boys, will receive trophies. Members of the champion and runner-up teams will receive medals (10 per team). The top 25 individual finishers in each class, both girls and boys, will receive medals.