Despite injuries preventing Malibu CA senior from pursuing a third straight national title, Dartmouth commit has remained connected with Foot Locker experience, including at West Regional at Mt. SAC

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Claudia Lane ran Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College.

READ CLAUDIA LANE: LIKE A BIRD SET FREE

Not in the spotlight of the 40th Foot Locker West Regional championship race, nor was she in search of a third consecutive individual regional crown in pursuit of qualifying again for the national final to defend her title.

The Malibu CA senior just ran the course in Walnut, Calif., for the memories, for the joy of being on the hills and for the appreciation for what it means to be healthy while covering such challenging terrain once more.

Lane, a two-time regional and national champion, was invited to Mt. SAC to shoot the starting gun for the championship races. But when all the competition and awards were concluded, there was Lane by herself, soaking in the significance of running at Mt. SAC again during a season in which running anywhere has taken on greater meaning for the Dartmouth commit.

“I just ran the course for my run for the day, and it was such a freeing and raw feeling running the course I’d raced for the past four years,” Lane said. “It was amazing being at Foot Locker West on Saturday. It meant so much for me to be back at Mt. SAC. It made me very nostalgic to return there, especially not running, but I was so overjoyed seeing familiar faces there, meeting new people and just being in the racing atmosphere once more.”

When the season began, Lane was inspired to potentially become the first female athlete to win three consecutive regional titles since Mission Prep CA graduate Jordan Hasay captured four in a row from 2005-08.

Lane was also motivated to become the only three-time national champion, at either Foot Locker or Nike Cross Nationals, and potentially challenge the all-time 5-kilometer course record 16:39 set in 1990 by Melody Fairchild of Boulder CO at Balboa Park’s Morley Field in San Diego, Calif.

Unfortunately for Lane, injuries prevented those dreams from possibly becoming reality.

After she recovered from a stress reaction in her foot that resulted in Lane being sidelined for the second half of the spring track season, tendonitis developed in her right knee, which eventually led to an IT band injury.

As a result, Lane competed in only one race in September, passing on weekend invitationals during the first two months of the season to travel the country on recruiting visits.

By the time the Citrus Coast League finals arrived Oct. 31, Lane and Malibu coach Mark Larsen determined it wasn’t in her best interest to try to race four consecutive weeks in California in pursuit of a third straight Division 4 state championship.

Still, Lane had an opportunity to compete at the Foot Locker West Regionals, with the goal of advancing to a third straight national final Saturday.

But as her road to recovery continues, Lane decided instead to celebrate her past experiences and hold on to her proudest memories as a Foot Locker champion, instead of risking potential setback by chasing more history.

“I have had no experience like the one I’ve had at Foot Locker Nationals. It is such an incredible, connecting experience for everyone and I am beyond grateful that I have been a part of it for the past couple of years,” Lane said. “I’ve loved sharing this experience with my family because they are able to see something that makes me genuinely happy and are able to see why without any words spoken.”

Lane is the first reigning girls champion with remaining eligibility to not race at the Foot Locker National Championships the following year since Anna Rohrer of Mishawaka IN was sidelined with injuries to both feet in 2013. Rohrer returned in 2014 to capture her second national title, one of six female athletes with multiple titles in meet history, along with Lane.

Although her place in Foot Locker history remains secure, Lane continues to express gratitude for the opportunity to be one of the 80 student-athletes each year who are able to experience such a prestigious event in her home state.

“The race is really fun and exciting, but I’ll admit the best part is certainly celebrating our passion for running together at the meet and just being with these friends who I don’t get to see all that much,” Lane said. “It has meant everything.”