Malibu cross country runner Claudia Lane claims Foot Locker Nationals title

THE BEST FOOTLOCKER EVER

When the cross country season began, the Foot Locker Nationals were nowhere near Claudia Lanes radar.

The Malibu sophomore admitted her first thoughts about competing at the Foot Locker Nationals came around mid-October. She changed her training and began to change her mentality midseason.

Yet Lane never imagined this.

Lane emerged as the Foot Locker Nationals champion on Saturday morning at San Diegos Balboa Park.

The crazy part? Lane led wire-to-wire to become the first California champion since Jordan Hasay in 2008.

It still hasnt hit me yet, Lane said. Im just really happy right now.

Lane covered the course in 17 minutes, 5 seconds, the best performance at Balboa Park since Aisling Cuffe ran a 16:53 clip in 2010.

Lane raised her arms triumphantly at the finish line and said she felt a wave of emotions.

When I crossed the finish line, it was amazing, Lane said. I was smiling. I was really happy. I had to put my hand over my mouth because I thought I was going to cry. It was really cool.

Lane held off a fantastic effort from Nevada Mareno of Raleigh, North Carolina, who clocked a 17:08 mark, one that would have won the past five Foot Locker Nationals and 11 of the past 14.

Mareno, who took third at last years foot locker nationals, began the first mile in seventh place, then steadily closed the gap but was unable to overtake Lane.

In the second mile, I thought she was starting to catch up with me, so I knew I needed to go, Lane said. Coming down that long hill, thats when I really started to push it.

Lane has seemingly come out of nowhere.

Lane did not start running until last season as a freshman.

This season Lane began blazing by winning the Seaside Invitational, the Palos Verdes Invitational, securing second-place at Woodbridge and winning the individual sweepstakes at Mt. SAC.

It was around Mt. SAC in mid-October that competing at Foot Locker Nationals became a possibility to her.

My coach started to see if I could enter in October -- he thought I was ready, Lane said. I started looking to challenge myself during the season to get ready for it.

I had that mentality that I wanted to stay in front. I was looking at my mile times, and I was tempoing to save for the really important races.

Then Lane captured the CIF Southern Section Division 4 title and the CIF State Division 4 crown, shattering the 2010 sophomore state record set by Davis Fiona OKeefe by a whopping 14 seconds.

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Then Lane ran away with the Foot Locker Regionals last week by 35 seconds with a 17:20 mark at Mt. SAC.

I envisioned myself doing well, Lane said. My coach was telling me to imagine myself winning. I knew what time I wanted. I knew that no matter what happens today, it was not going to affect tomorrow, so I challenged myself.

It capped a memorable weekend at the Foot Locker Nationals, where Lane and the other runners had dinner with Olympians at the glorious Coronado Hotel and she had a chance to bond with her West Regional teammates.

Its fun to run with people who are the same speed as you, Lane said. At my school, theres only one guy who can keep up with me.

Its been so much fun. I saw (Olympian) Molly Huddle at the dinner. I got to hang out with my teammates at the beach. And were going ice skating and getting ice cream later today.

Source: http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20161210/malibu-cross-country-runner-claudia-lane-claims-foot-locker-nationals-title