12/07/07 

After winning the Midwest regional in record time, Worthington Kilbourne senior Claire Durkin enters the Foot Locker national cross country championships Saturday in San Diego among a handful of top contenders.

Durkin isn't so sure about that assessment.

"I've never raced against this kind of competition before, so I really don't know what to expect," said Durkin, who won the Division I state championship on Nov. 3. "At this level, every runner is used to being in front, and I'm a little nervous about that."

Durkin's career-best time of 17 minutes, 1 second on Nov. 24 in Kenosha, Wis., broke a 17-year-old course record held by two-time national champion Melody Fairchild (17:08). Durkin's dominating, 41-second victory grabbed attention nationwide.