Does Claudia Lane Deserve More Respect After Domination At CIF Championships?

Has Malibu (CA) High junior Claudia Lane been getting the respect she deserves? 

That's a valid question after her domination on Saturday at the CIF Division IV Cross Country Championships, where Lane, ranked No. 2 on the Flo50 behind Katelyn Tuohy, set a new course record at Woodward Park in 16:30.30, surpassing Simi Valley great Sarah Baxter, who posted a time of 16:40.00 in 2012. 

Lane, though, accomplished this feat in a smaller division and defeated the next fastest competitor by nearly 80 seconds. Baxter was in California's highest class, Division I, and out-paced the runner-up by 30 seconds. 

The returning Foot Locker Nationals champ has been demolishing courses since beginning the season on October 4 -- about a month and a half late, her coaches said, to remain fresh for later in the year -- where she set a course 3-mile record at Lake Casitas Twilight in 16:32. It was there where she once again passed Baxter's old mark. 

She went on to Mt. SAC on October 21, setting another 3-mile record in 15:49 to best Baxter's old mark by 11 seconds. Three weeks later, at the CIF Southern Section Preliminaries, Lane pocketed another 15:49.40, blowing the field away by almost two minutes. 

Perhaps the only knock on Lane is that she hasn't competed premier competition like Tuohy, who's faced Kelsey Chmiel, Katherine Lee, and Claire Walters. 

Then again, that likely wouldn't have mattered in any race, anyway, considering all the previous facts. Lane's been running solo the entire season. Will she run against Tuohy? 

Unfortunately, we won't be able to see No. 1 meet No. 2 on Saturday at NXN. Both Tuohy and Lane have confirmed they will be running in competing meets -- Tuohy at NXN and Lane at Foot Locker Nationals. 

But look out for Lane to go for her second straight win at Foot Locker West on December 2 on the Mt. SAC course, and then possibly best her previous best from Foot Locker Nationals in 2016 when she went 17:04.81. Can she eclipse Amber Trotter's nationals record of 16:24.10? Many believe Lane is capable of doing that very thing on December 9 in San Diego. 

She won Foot Locker West by 35 seconds in 2016 -- finishing in 17:20.10 -- before going on to claim her first Foot Locker Nationals title. 

Below is a nice look at the top 10 times from Woodwark Park since 2000. 

Top 10 Finishers At The CIF Championships Since 2000