Buena suerte to Fidel Banuelos, Liz Palmer on injury recovery

Fidel on the road.

Noting news on Martha Mendenhall’s Facebook page, Liz Palmer writes: “Prayers go out to fellow masters track competitor Fidel Banuelos, who was injured during his 60m race Saturday at the University of Washington in Seattle. Possible PCL tear and detached hammy. Fractured scapula and ribs and punctured lung due to the fall. You can send him good wishes at: Fidelbz@comcast.net.” He’s an Oregon-based M45 sprinter, BTW, who graciously sends me newsy notes from Portland and Eugene. Liz herself got injured yesterday and will be out for a few months. So good luck on her recovery as well.

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January 28, 2013

9 Responses

  1. peter taylor - January 29, 2013

    All best to Fidel. That’s an extraordinary set of injuries in a dash; does anyone have any more details? Regardless, I hope that Fidel will be able to get back to competition by next January.

    As for Liz, I know that she was hoping for a great year. Did she sustain her injuries in the hurdles or the dash at the Easterns in Providence (see other story)? All best, Liz.

  2. Joanna Harper - January 29, 2013

    This sounds horrible. Fidel suffered a ruptured achilles tendon three years ago, and now this.

  3. Fidel - January 29, 2013

    I have more details…lol. At 10m, I felt a pop in the back of my knee. That made me lose balance and when that leg came back around, it landed in such a way that the force caused an avulsion fracture of the fibula. When I fell, I landed on my shoulder which caused the shoulder blade fracture and I also broke 2 ribs and punctured a lung. The doc said he only sees these types of injuries on motorcycle crashes.

    The fractures to the scapula, ribs and collapsed lung will heal by themselves eventually. Aside from the knee avulsion fracture, I don’t know what else I damaged in my knee. The pop I felt could be a torn hammy or ligament…or both. I do know it feels very unstable and is very swollen. I see an ortho doc next week.

    Thinking back on all of this, I would have been happy with just the pop I felt but the fall caused all these other issues. It was kind of a freak accident, I guess. Here’s the video…not sure about the qualityВ but you’ll get the idea. Also, I would not wish this kind of pain on anyone. It’s the throw up/pass out kind of pain.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xduJ42Lv0gM&feature=youtube_gdata_playerfeature

  4. Mary Harada - January 29, 2013

    best wishes to both Fidel and Liz for speedy and complete recoveries. Wow – Fidel – looked like a demolition derby crash – so sorry – very painful to watch.

  5. Lindy Raney - January 29, 2013

    I hope you heal well Fidel. I slammed into the side of a clueless truck driver who pulled out in front of me while riding at 55mph on my motorcycle. I had very similar rib, lung, and scapula injuries to yours so I know you are in severe pain now. I recovered fully and hope that you will be running again in the future.

  6. Marcus O'Sullivan - January 30, 2013

    The masters community’s thoughts are with you Fidel!! I had a workout with Fidel the previous Saturday and he is very strong!! Great guy to train with! Look forward to seeing on the track, pulling away as usual!!

  7. BMo - January 30, 2013

    Ijole jefe! Lo siento, mucho! Pains me to watch the vid. Hang in there bro. I hope you heal well my friend.

  8. Xavier - February 4, 2013

    Hey I remember Fidel, my wife and I meet him at a meet in Oregon. Heal up my friend. In our clinic, we only see these types of severe injuries with MVA’s and cyclists.

  9. Vin Gattullo - February 9, 2013

    I am trying to get in touch with Pete Leather
    and Steve Dillion,former weight throwing team mates
    in the 1950’s.
    Any posibility of publishing my note and phone no,
    917-279-5661 for either one to contact me.
    Thanks, VG

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