BILL WARD/STAFF

Grace Van De Grift ran the 1,600-meter run there in 5:11:42 for third place at the Steinbrenner Invitational.

 

 

By BILL WARD | TBO.com

Published: April 4, 2011

Updated: 08:59 pm

For many high school athletes, mononucleosis is a season ender. But most athletes are not Durant High senior Grace Van De Grift.

In her case, the symptoms appeared just before the start of the season in February. Early on, Van De Grift was unaware she had the viral infection, but being a runner, she knew something just wasn't right with her body.

"I was tired all the time. I'd go for a run and say 'You shouldn't feel like this,'" Van De Grift said. "I was actually getting mad at myself.''

When symptoms persisted — which included a sinus infection and swollen spleen — she saw a doctor. Tests revealed she had mono and that meant she needed rest — lots of it. If you know anything about Van De Grift, you know taking things easy is not her forte. This is a girl who typically wakes up for pre-dawn training runs before school, a place she is an honors student.