I had neglected the unfortunate prevalence of injuries that mars the sport of cross country. I’d forgotten how frequently I see Harvard’s cross country athletes sporting boots and using crutches as they make their way around campus.

I’d fallen into the trap that catches many casual fans of the sport—the assumption that its competitors rarely get injured because they don’t go toe-to-toe with 230-pound linebackers who want to rip their heads off.

Cross country poses a different threat to those who are talented and dedicated enough to participate in the sport at the collegiate level. Though not as severe as concussions or broken bones, stress fractures and tendonitis have the potential to be equally devastating to a cross country team’s championship aspirations.

The Crimson and I learned this the hard way in 2011.

With the Heptagonal Championship meet this weekend and NCAA Regionals on the horizon, many of the team’s key contributors are suffering from injuries. Harvard’s once-loaded roster now looks a bit less promising.

The Crimson may have reached its “peak” at the Paul Short Invite. It appears as if injuries and the fickle nature of cross country may now be propelling the team down a “drop” in its roller coaster of a season.

Harvard has a chance to prove its mettle against Ivy League competition on Saturday morning. Only then will we truly know the impact of injuries on the squad. On Saturday afternoon, we’ll know if my bleak prediction became a reality.

Because let’s face it, I’ve been wrong before.

—Staff writer Dominic A. Martinez can be reached at dmartinez@college.harvard.edu.