Another record-setting run for Lane

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Claudia Lane unveiled a new racing kit Thursday, but it was the same dominant performance for the Malibu CA junior.

Wearing a black top and bottom with teal script for the first time, Lane lowered her own course record on the 3-mile layout at Elkins Ranch Golf Course, clocking 16 minutes, 20.81 seconds to win the second Tri-County Athletic Association meet in Fillmore, Calif.

“I didn’t like (the new kit) as much the other one,” Lane joked. “I’ll definitely be back to the white (top) for Mt. SAC.”

Lane ran 16:58.60 on the Elkins course last year, but after her first track workout of the season Tuesday, she was able to beat all but three of the 164 male athletes who competed Thursday. Michael Sanchez won in 16:06.62 for Fillmore, which was edged 48-55 in the boys race by Foothill Tech.

“We did (a speed workout) just because I haven’t done it in a while. I don’t know if it was necessarily for the purpose of this course, I think it was just to get my legs back in that rhythmic race mode,” said Lane, who set the 3-mile Lake Casitas course record Oct. 4 by running 16:32 at the Ventura County Preview Twilight Meet.

“It’s encouraging to see these times. I didn’t expect to run that time, I just thought it was a league meet, so I kind of expected to run the same time I did last year, but I felt good.

“(The early improvement) is a little surprising to be honest. I think it’s maybe just building on my base from last year. Every year, I think any runner gets progressively stronger.”

Although Lane didn’t run Saturday at the 39th ASICS Clovis Invitational, Fillmore junior Carissa Rodriguez and Foothill Tech raced on the state course at Woodward Park.

Rodriguez returned to league competition to produce a significant improvement at Elkins Ranch, taking second in 18:39.19 – lowering her performance from 19:55.08 last season – with Foothill Tech finishing third through sixth and placing all five scorers in the top 10 after gaining valuable experience in the Clovis championship race.

Blythe Blakeman (18:59.84), Olivia Burton (19:02.34), Kennedy Gomez (19:13.80), Lauren Kearney (19:16.00) and Cameron Becker (19:36.40) helped Foothill Tech – the reigning California Division 4 state champions – prevail 28-52 over Fillmore.

Foothill Tech and Rodriguez will race against Lane again Oct. 27 at the Ventura County Championships in Ojai, Calif.

Lane is scheduled to compete Oct. 21 in the invitational sweepstakes race at the 70th Mt. SAC Invitational in Walnut, Calif.