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<strong>Colorado's Class of 2014 makes their decisions...</strong></p>
Claire Green has been a fixture on the Monarch 4x800 since she roared onto the high school track and field scene. Colorado Track XC file photo.
Claire Green's best marks:
800 meters - 2:12.07
1500 meters - 4:38.64
1600 meters - 5:07.88 (at altitude)
5K cross country - 17:52.5 (at altitude)
I'm guessing you had a lot of potential offers. What were some of the last schools remaining in the running, and what led to the ultimate choice of Arizona?
I was unbelievably lucky to have, in my opinion, the opportunity to visit some of the nation’s best programs - which of course made my final decision that much harder! In the end, I narrowed my choices to Iowa State and Arizona. When it comes down to two amazing programs, coaches, and schools it's really a matter of where you can see yourself living for at least four years, and possibly longer. It would have been so much easier if I had experienced a few sub-par programs that I could instantly eliminate, but after meeting different teams and coaches, I realized how incredibly dedicated each coach is to the success of each individual athlete as well as to the success of their overall program. I could not be more happy with my choice of Arizona, and I am SO excited to start the next part of my career!
What are you looking to major in at the University of Arizona?
Ugh, I knew you would ask me that!!! As of now, I’m not sure what I would like to major in, but I have a passion for writing and I’m a huge people person. I’d love to be able to incorporate that with a job working for a non-profit like Invisible Children.
What event or events do you anticipate your college coaches will be focusing on with you?
As far as I know the plan is to keep my training and racing as low mileage as possible, which means focussing mainly on the 800 and 1500 that first year. The 800 is definitely my favorite event, but in the end I’ll most likely be a 1500 girl--as long as I don’t have to run any 10,000’s I’ll be a happy camper!
There is quite a number of special moments in your high school career. From all of those, can you select one or two that somehow mean more than all the others?
One of my favorite moments has to be the 4x800 at my freshman year state meet. I was anchoring, as was Eleanor Fulton, and I looked up to her so much, I just wanted to hang with her as long as possible. So when I got the baton I started sprinting as hard as I possibly could (I PR’d in my 200 and my 400 in the first lap). Eleanor was coming up on my shoulder at the 400 and I managed to stay with her for another 100 - before I blew. I mean that last 300 was the longest I’ve ever had to run in my life. Afterwards she came up to me and was like, “Hey, thanks for making this so much fun!” and I’m sure I was so excited. That stands out, but honestly, any time I spend with my team is priceless to me, they’re my family.
Are you willing to share a goal with us that you have for the one remaining season of your high school career?
Last track season, I finally figured out how to really race an 800. I bet that sounds a little strange, but it’s such a tactical race, that being off your first split by a second makes a huge difference. This year I really want to learn how to race a 1600 in that same way, which for me means sucking it up a little more when hurts and digging a little deeper to get the results I want! I’m really lucky to be surrounded by a huge number of outstanding milers, so having that competition in each race will really help.
Did you have any expectation when you started as a freshman at Monarch High School that it would be as wild of a ride as it's been?
My freshman year I was a volleyball player. It was a last minute decision to do cross, and my goal was to make varsity at least once in the season. I ended up making it the first race which unfortunately was the 2010-2011 state course. I cried through the whole thing and when I finished, I told my mom I was quitting. The next week I got fourth at St. Vrain and thought maybe it wouldn’t hurt to stick around longer. I had absolutely no clue, and I mean zero clue, all the opportunities running would bring me, but all I can say is that it was the best decision I ever made to run, and it has truly changed my life.
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So, now you know. If you want to watch Claire Green with an educated eye this spring, watch her 1600s. But, don't forget to catch a few of the 800s as well. She's made a specialty of running some very nice 800s, and there are surely more of those to come.