Sophomore Bethanie Brown isn’t expected to make her return for the ISU women’s cross country team until the NCAA Championships on Nov. 23, as she continues to recover from a tendon injury.

Brown placed 16th overall at the Roy Griak Invitational during her lone event of the season.

ISU women’s cross country coach Andrea Grove-McDonough said she doesn’t want to risk Brown re-aggravating the injury at the Big 12 Championships or the NCAA Midwest Regional, and risk not having her for the NCAA Championships.

“The decision with Bethanie isn’t easy on one hand, but on the other hand, it’s really easy because I need Bethanie ready to go at the National Championships,” Grove-McDonough said. “She can make a historic difference in terms of a team that finishes eighth or ninth and a team that finishes on the podium.”

Once Brown returns, she is expected to regain her spot as the team’s third runner.

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