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The Roanoke Times

File Glenvar running standout Megan Marsico is recovering from a broken bone in her foot.

Although a nagging foot injury has kept Glenvar distance running star Megan Marsico off the cross country course this autumn, it didn't keep Virginia Tech from offering the talented senior a spot with the Hokies.

Having verbally committed to Tech, Marsico joins former Glenvar distance stars Trish Nervo and Kelly Clark in making the jump from the Highlanders to Division I college competition.

"I'm really excited," said Marsico, who said she has been offered a full scholarship. "This takes a lot of weight off my shoulders."

Former Glenvar cross country coach Dickie Myers said he was glad the Hokies didn't give up on Marsico despite her injury.

"She has a lot of talent, but she works super hard," Myers said.

Marsico has compiled an impressive resume that includes state titles in cross country in 2007 and 2008, and on the track in the 1,600 and 3,200 in 2008.

Last year Marsico was especially dominant in cross country, putting together an undefeated campaign in Virginia and earning a spot in the prestigious Foot Locker National Championship.

Among the many meet and course records she set was a 17:45.75 at last year's Metro Cross Country Invitational at Green Hill Park, and a 17:38 at the state meet at Great Meadows in Northern Virginia.

In both cases the previous record holder was former Northside star Catherine White, who is also now racing in the ACC after transferring from Arkansas to UVa this past summer.

Marsico said she was sold on Tech after a visit during which she watched a Hokies cross country practice.

"I like the way the coaches ran things," she said. "And I liked all the people.

"It just felt right."

College women race 6-kilometer cross country courses, a 1-kilometer bump up from high school. The distance events in outdoor track are 5,000 and 10,000 meter races.

Marsico said she is looking forward to the longer distances.

"The more distance you give me, the better I do," she said.

Although Marsico was successful in cross country and track as a freshman, she broke out as a sophomore, winning the state cross country title, and then doubling in the 1,600 and 3,200 in outdoor track.

After her untouchable junior campaign in cross country Marsico saw her track season cut short when she broke a bone in her foot.

"When I was warming up for the 3,200 at the Southern Track Classic, something just didn't feel right in my right foot," Marsico said. "It got worse throughout the race."

She won the race but the foot hurt so bad she wasn't able to jog to cool down.

The next day she was diagnosed with a broken metatarsal bone.

Over the summer, just a few days before getting medical clearance on that injury, Marsico started feeling pain in her other foot.

That turned out to be another fracture, this time of a small bone near the big toe.

Marsico said she has been cycling and training in the pool to stay in shape while the injury heals and while awaiting medical clearance to start running again.

"I hope it's soon," she said. "I'm about to go crazy.

"I want to run so bad."

But not so bad that she risks coming back too soon.

"I might not make it back for cross country," she said. "I might just have to wait and build myself up for track season."