Ryan McGarry, former SMU Cross County Runner Shows Courage

[MrMustang1965]

McGarry, a high school phenom in California, had a tremendous freshman cross-country season at Southern Methodist University in Dallas before cancer threatened to end not only his running career, but his life.

After treatments and determination beat the cancer into remission, McGarry found he had few opportunities to resume his athletic career.

His weekly telephone conversations with longtime Nittany Lions track coach Harry Groves served as both escape and therapy, so he decided to enroll at Penn State.

McGarry's dreams of regaining the form that earned him recognition as one of the top freshman runners in his conference have yet to be realized.

But he is still running -- hoping for one last shot at making the university's Big Ten roster. And away from the track, McGarry founded the Penn State chapter of the American Cancer Society's Colleges Against Cancer, a foundation that offers meals and other assistance to students who have the disease, sponsors a charity race to benefit cancer research and pushes for smoke-free bars and restaurants.

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centreda ... 254186.htm

[Water Pony]

Thanks for the post, Great story and individual.

Wish we could've kept Track & Field/Cross Country for Men. Our loss.

[DallasDiehard]

Here's wishing him all the best.
Good luck -- even if it's at Penn State!