Carlson Out of World Cross with Injury

Team USA Minnesota's Andrew Carlson has withdrawn from next week's IAAF World Cross Country Championships due to a rib injury. Carlson suffered the injury in a fall on the ice while on a training run.

A doctor's examination this week confirmed a cracked rib as well as muscle and bone bruising, according to Pat Goodwin of Team USA Minnesota.

"This is just one of those unfortunate accidents," Team USA Minnesota Coach Dennis Barker said in the media release. "He needs a couple of weeks to mend before he can resume training. Then he'll get ready for the outdoor track and road racing season later this spring."

Carlson (pictured) earned a spot on the men's 12k team at the USA Cross Country Championships in Boulder, Colorado in February. He most recently finished 10th at the USA 15k Championships held in Jacksonville, Florida on last weekend.

Update: We missed this earlier, but the latest news release from Team USA Minnesota notes that Katie McGregor has also decided to withdraw from the World Cross Country Championships "in order to prepare for the outdoor track season." This would have been McGregor's fifth consecutive U.S. World Cross Country Team.

Photo courtesy of Sean Hartnett.