Following recent illness, two-time Foot Locker national cross country champion will race first 3,200 of season against impressive field of California challengers

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Even an early season illness and unexpected trip to the emergency room haven’t been enough to prevent Claudia Lane from her scheduled 3,200-meter opener Friday at the 43rd Stanford Invitational at Cobb Track and Angell Field.

The Malibu CA junior took a conservative approach the first month of the season after recovering from flu, only competing in 800 and 1,600 races at home meets.

“I’ve been running these low-key races for workouts,” said Lane, the reigning 3,200 state champion.

“We decided to switch to the 3,200 for Stanford, as we haven’t done as much speed work since we started later.”

Lane opened in the 3,200 a week earlier last season, clocking 10 minutes, 12.21 seconds at the New Balance Azusa Meet of Champions Distance Classic at Azusa Pacific University. She decided to run the mile at Stanford, winning in 4:47.73.

This year, the distances for high school races at Stanford have been changed from a mile and 3,000 meters to the 1,600 and 3,200, meaning the opportunity for Lane and other athletes to produce new meet records.

Lane clocked a 3,200 personal best 9:57.52 last year to win the 50th Arcadia Invitational. Friday’s race will be the only significant tuneup for the two-time Foot Locker national cross country champion in preparation for competing April 7 at Arcadia.

“I’m feeling great, I got over the flu and I’m back in training mode. I just want to see how much speed I have and test my aerobic endurance against this very competitive field,” Lane said. “I’m very excited.”

Lane will be challenged by Oak Ridge senior Maddy Denner, last year’s state 3,200 runner-up, along with La Costa Canyon junior Kristin Fahy, who placed 10th last season and ranks in the top 20 nationally this year.

Mission Viejo junior Kelli Hines, who ranks eighth nationally, and Healdsburg junior Gabrielle Peterson – No. 14 in the country this season – are also entered, along with nine other individuals who have broken 11 minutes this year.