December 2006

Caitlin Lane - Class of 2008

Caitlin moved to Greenwich and enrolled at GCS in the spring of 2006. In short order, she revived old friendships, made new friends and established herself in classes and on the track and field team. Easily the most nationally prominent athlete in GCS history, Caitlin proceeded to eclipse school records in the 1500M and 3000M runs. In the recently completed cross-country season, her first place finish led Greenwich to the NYSPHSAA Class C State Championship.

With the Lanes, running is all in the family. Robert “Bob” Lane, Caitlin’s dad, is a well-known running coach who recently gave a presentation to athletes at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid. Mom, Dena Lane, is a member of the GCS coaching staff and assists in cross-country and track and field. Caitlin’s younger siblings, Brittney and Austin, are also high-performing student athletes. Ninth-grader, Brittney, was a top finisher on the State Championship cross-country team and seventh-grader, Austin, shocked the regional cross country world this season, winning the varsity Wasaren League Championship Race and placing 4^th at the Sectional Meet. He was the only seventh-grade male to qualify for the New York State Championship Meet.

The spotlight isn’t always comfortable and when a prominent student-athlete enrolls in her third high school, it can generate substantial “buzz.” If seeking appropriate opportunities for your children is controversial, then the Lanes plead guilty. Simply put, the Lanes are a close-knit, wholesome family and Caitlin happily calls Greenwich “home.”

Caitlin broke onto the National running scene at nine years old, has run in Madison Square Garden (NYC), the Reggie Lewis Arena (Boston) and in championship meets throughout the country. Although her individual races have been stunning (her indoor 1500M time was the best in the U.S. for most of the 2004-05 season), her performances across a wide range of distances are even more impressive. For those interested in the numbers, her bests include: 800M-2:13; 1500M-4:27 and 3000M- 9:37. Her 17:01 at the Saratoga State Park (3.05Miles) last year places her in the top handful of area cross-country athletes ever. And Section 2 has long been recognized as a national hotbed of elite runners.

Caitlin Lane powers up hill ahead of a pack of runners
at this year's State Federation Championship race

When Caitlin arrived in Greenwich, she was reunited with several friends from Argyle, who enrolled at GCS two years ago. She has also made many new friends and enjoys school (she was just named to the 1^st Quarter honor roll). She loves to draw, paint and write in her daily running journal. Additionally, she stays in contact with competitors and friends in high schools and colleges throughout region and country.

Caitlin is a sharp-minded, clear-eyed young person who converses comfortably with contemporaries and school staff. She also manages the delicate balance of motivating teammates in grueling practices and meets, while maintaining friendships. Cross Country coach Steve Patrick comments: “She always works hard and leads by example. And that’s not just in practice and in meets. She’s really clean-cut and maintains excellent health habits. As our top runner, she knows that others will follow her lead. She’s not ready to hear about life after running yet, but someday she could be a great coach.” Coach Patrick jokes: “Right now, she fills in the coaching gaps of everything I miss.”

Caitlin is looking forward to the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons this year and next fall she will narrow her field of college choices, which reads like a Who’s Who of running powers. In the meantime, there is high school life to enjoy, hard work to be done and races to be run.