ALEX Carter will be only too happy to see the back of 2015.

The 19-year-old former English Schools’ medallist from Winsley has endured a tough time since taking up a sports scholarship at Iona University in New York State in 2014.

By his own admission he has only enjoyed one decent performance in 18 months as he has struggled with the fall-out from his first serious injury suffered in the summer of 2014.

But the arrival of a new year has brought fresh hope and Carter, who has been back in Wiltshire for the Christmas holidays, believes the worst is behind him and he can begin to re-pay the faith of the American coaches who have nursed him through this difficult period.

“It has been pretty tough,” he admitted. “I started training really well in the summer of 2015 but a niggle in my ankle started bothering me. The doctors at Iona told me that the stress fracture in my foot I first suffered two years ago had never properly healed and that I would need surgery.

“I did not feel right at all and have felt for the past two years there was something restrictive there. I was not in pain particularly but I could not run up hills as I could not bend my foot properly so quite often I never finished hill sessions which was very frustrating.

“To be honest finding out what was wrong was such a relief as I could finally get it sorted and I had surgery at the start of November and was first on crutches for a while and now I am wearing a protective boot.

“But I am hoping – fingers crossed - that in January I can start running again.”

Carter spent just under two hours in the operating theatre, a new experience for him, and is optimistic that the procedure was a success.

“The doctors have told me the fracture has healed but they wanted me to be cautious,” added Carter.

“Clearly the last time I came back from the original stress fracture way too quick and got into cross training too soon and over-did it.

“I just didn’t give it enough time to heal so this time I have had a long time doing absolutely nothing which is frustrating and not something I enjoyed. At least with the boot I can take it off and get into the pool and onto the stationary bike.”

Carter is fortunate that the athletics staff at Iona have not put him under any pressure to rush back.

“It is all about slow and steady rehab and the coaches at Iona don’t want me racing cross country until next season,” said Carter.

“They are happy to give me the time to recover which is brilliant and might not have happened at other colleges. They have been so supportive and caring.”

It was Carter’s athletics success at St Lawrence School that earned him the scholarship and he has embraced everything the college has to offer.

“Apart from the injury my time at Iona is going really and has been a great experience,” said Carter. “I have made so many new friends. I feel I have settled into life there really well and I am having a lot of fun.

“But it is a shame that in my second year at the college I have only had one decent race, an 8mins 20.03secs indoors in Boston last winter.

“It is my first serious injury and unfortunately it has lasted over a year. Hopefully that is now behind me and I can enjoy a year without any more injuries and get back to some decent racing.”