Suburban cross country clean, healthy

York Suburban cross country coaches Ron Herman and Bill Oestereich put to rest a rumor that players on their teams had MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus), a staph infection resistant to many antibiotics.

Oestereich, the girls' coach, said he had one runner who checked out with a doctor last week and two runners who missed practice Saturday. However, the runner who visited the doctor did not have MRSA, he said. The two runners who missed practice were out with injury. Oestereich described his one runner's symptoms as "raised little pieces of skin on her elbow and again on the wrist" of the same right arm.

Herman, the boys' coach, said he heard of the rumors Thursday, but found out the girls' runner was diagnosed with having poison ivy.

"With this swine flu going on, you have to be careful," said Herman, who added his boys' team is completely healthy.

-- MATT GOUL