The most accomplished runner in the history of Malibu High School has just made her debut in an international race with an impressive finish. Claudia Lane, just 16 years old, placed 7th in the Great Edinburgh Cross Country International Challenge in Scotland on Saturday. With a time of 14:30, only one American, Kelsey Chmiel of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., beat Lane, winning the four-kilometer race at 14 minutes, 10 seconds.
Lane, a junior at MHS, was invited to the prestigious running event in Scotland as part of Team USA, which finished second to Great Britain, 26-27, with the European team finishing third with 30 points.
Saturday’s race in Edinburgh pitted the best running teams from Great Britain and Northern Ireland against teams from Europe and the United States in four different races. Because Lane ran the fastest three-mile and 5K cross country races last season in the U.S., she was invited to Team USA. Lane was one of only 24 women on the team—and one of only three high schoolers, including race winner Chmiel, also a 16-year-old junior. Lane is the second-youngest.
The ever-humble Lane told The Malibu Times of her international track debut: “It was so much fun and such an incredible experience. The other runners were excited as well. I was excited and nervous.”
Lane’s coach, Mark Larsen, corresponding with The Malibu Times from Scotland, described the race as a “difficult course that consisted of grass, deep mud, stream crossings and very cold weather.” Larsen also described Lane’s performance.
“She ran like a champ and competed well,” Larsen detailed. “It was a great first outing for Claudia for her first international race against the best that the U.K. and Europe had to offer.”
Lane is gaining a winning reputation and lots of fans in the U.S. as a two-time national champion in cross country, sweeping the Foot Locker Nationals in 2016 and 2017. If she can pull off another win late in 2018 as a senior, she would become the first ever three-time champion in the sport.
“It was amazing, especially since Claudia’s season was over after nationals and she took a week off,” Larsen said of Lane’s seventh place finish.
The MHS junior was expected back at school Tuesday and, after taking some time off, plans to start training for spring track season at Malibu High where she competes in the 3,200-meter and two-miler races.
“I became such great friends with every girl on my team. I really looked up to all of the older and pro athletes who raced,” Lane said. “It was one of the best experiences of my life, for sure.”
