#6 Girls 3200 meters-Claudia Lane (Malibu) and Brie Oakley (Grandview)
The Footlocker Cross Country National Championship meet had determined the undisputed individual national champion for many years. In 2004, the Nike Team Nationals entered the XC national scene to determine the team national champion. Since then, the event has become the Nike Cross Nationals and it now includes some of the best individuals as well. Some of the top individuals have to now choose between the two events which leaves us with a scenario that took place this past fall. Brie Oakley (Grandview) crushed the field at NXN while Claudia Lane (Malibu) won the Footlocker National meet. Many of us wondered who would have won if those two girls would have raced each other in December. That conclusion was finally determined at the Arcadia Invitational 3200 meters and wow, what a race! The two girls attached to each other early and often and were never separated by very much the rest of the race. Lane was able to edge out Oakley 9:57.52 to 9:57.59 at the finish line for an amazing duel between the two girls. I for one can't wait for the rematch.