A Standout Career, Then a New Challenge
Before her knee injury ever entered the picture, Layne St. George had already put together an outstanding playing career — Clemson College Cup run, 52 NCAA appearances, U17 U.S. youth national team experience, and a Washington Gatorade Player of the Year award. But after years of competing at that level, her body finally asked for something she had never needed before: a full reset. What came next — the surgery, the rehab, the quiet rebuilding — became the part of her story most people never saw.
This weekend, Layne St. George finished the Kiawah Island Marathon — a full 26.2 miles — less than two years after undergoing MPFL reconstruction and a demanding six-month rehabilitation process. She did it because she’s competitive, disciplined, and still wired like an athlete, even after stepping away from college soccer.
The Recovery Behind the Achievement
Layne’s knee issues didn’t come from one dramatic moment. They were the slow, grinding kind — an overuse problem tied to her anatomy and movement patterns. The type of injury that lingers, worsens, and eventually forces a decision.
In February of 2024, that decision became unavoidable. She underwent surgery under Clemson team physician Dr. Steve Martin, beginning a long rehab process with one goal: get her life back.
After recovering, Layne wrapped up her senior year at Clemson. At the same time, she stepped into a new chapter with NCE Soccer, joining our administrative team and quickly becoming a vital part of our operations.
If you’ve worked with her already, you know exactly what she brings: detail, composure, efficiency, and a quiet competitiveness that shows up in everything she does. Running a marathon fits perfectly into that theme. Finishing 26.2 miles isn’t an extension of her playing career — it’s a statement that her injury didn’t take anything from her long-term. She reclaimed the things she loves: running, training, moving, pushing herself, staying active.
Why This Matters to Us at NCE
Layne didn’t run a marathon to set an example. But it’s still a great one. Not because of the distance — but because of the process.
At NCE, we work with young players who face setbacks, injury, frustration, and self-doubt. Most of them won’t run a marathon. They don’t need to. But seeing someone they know — someone who helps run the organization — take a difficult path and finish it anyway is meaningful.
It’s real. And it’s earned. We’re proud to have her on our team. Proud of the work she does every day. And proud of the fact that she quietly went out and conquered 26.2 miles on a course that demands commitment.
Congratulations to Layne on completing her first marathon — a milestone that speaks to her effort, discipline, and resilience.
