Nearly missed Krepel’s story, but recognition comes to those who deserve it
I cover cross country for the Oklahoman and while I was fortunate enough to tell a lot of runners’ tales this past fall, I missed one story. Katie Krepel of Kingfisher was a name I knew well (and her sister Grace). But I didn’t know until after the season, when I was putting together my All-City cross country team, about the ordeal Katie had gone through. And, since she’s a senior, I wouldn’t have another chance next cross country season to write her story.
Alas, though I don’t cover track, Krepel does compete in the sport. That gave me the opportunity to write her story for the track season preview. It will be in Sunday’s sports section. If you miss it in print, I’m including it here.
It’s nice that everything worked out because Krepel deserves the recognition. She’s overcome a lot and hasn’t sought the spotlight. For now, it’s going to be on her. Likely, it will be again come state meet time in May.
Enjoy the story:
In describing Katie Krepel, Kingfisher track coach Alan Palesano offers that she’s one of the hardest workers he’s ever coached.
A compliment of high measure to be sure. Then again, Krepel’s not hard to find words for — best, brightest, toughest, bravest would all have been as accurate.
Krepel, a senior distance runner, heads into the track season as one of the favorites to win a Class 3A championship in as many as four events. A year ago, the 18-year old finished third in the 800 meters, 1,600 meters and 3,200 meter relay at the state meet. Krepel also runs the 3,200.
She has a chance to better those finishes this season. Which stands to reason, seeing as how it won’t take what Krepel considers a miracle for her to run well this time around.
“Going into the meet last year, I was not in the shape that I had been the previous year by all means,” Krepel said. “I just kind of gave it to God because I knew I couldn’t do what I had done the year before.
“When I finished it was kind of a miracle what I had done. I couldn’t have run the way I did by myself.”
Krepel’s miracle was being able to compete at her highest level just a few months removed from an appendix rupture that became life threatening and required major surgery.
“I ran just a half second off of my career best time,” Krepel said of posting a 5:27 in the mile. “I just couldn’t believe that because when I was in the hospital and when I started slowly running again, I started wondering whether I would be able to get back to the level I was at before.”
Krepel, also a cross country standout, had her first signs of trouble during the state championship cross country meet in October of her junior year.
“I was in 10th after the first mile,” she said. “But then I could tell something was wrong. I didn’t feel right. I finished in 53rd place and I pretty much collapsed at the end.”
A trip to the doctor drew a diagnosis of iron deficiency. But a few weeks later, Krepel was getting sick at her stomach and having severe abdominal pain. An emergency room visit resulted in another misdiagnosis, which exacerbated the problem considerably.
“They sent me home … said I had the flu,” Krepel said.
The pain caused Krepel to miss a week of school before a return trip to the hospital. This time, more than a month after her symptoms began, a ct scan was ordered.
“When my mom and I were waiting for the results, a doctor looked at it and basically started freaking out,” Krepel said. “I guess it was that bad. They knew my appendix had ruptured. I was taken to Deaconess Hospital and they drained seven pounds of junk out. That was supposed to be the end of it.”
The symptoms returned and the day after Christmas Krepel was back at the hospital.
“I went to the emergency room to get another ct scan and the nurses looked at me like I’m an idiot for being there with nothing wrong,” she said. “Then they freaked out just like the doctor had. I had radical surgery. They cut my whole stomach down pretty much.”
Krepel’s toughness and excellent physical condition from running was part of the reason was misdiagnosed, she was told.
“One doctor said the reason he didn’t think it was my appendix is because I didn’t jump off the table when he pressed on it,” Krepel said.
One of Krepel’s older brothers also had his appendix removed, with the resulting typical two-inch scar. Katie’s goes six inches down her stomach. She had to have a foot taken off of her large intestine and half a foot taken off her small intestine.
Nevertheless, four months later, she was not only running in the state meet, she was collecting a trio of bronze medals.
This past October, Krepel, whose sister Grace is also among the top runners in 3A, placed first or second in five cross country meets, won the regional title and made All-State by placing ninth at state. And with personal-best times 2:24 in the 800, 5:27 in the mile and 12:04 in the two-mile, she looks to do even better this season in track. Fortunately, this time, it won’t take a miracle.
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