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Mooresville runner hit her stride this year
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Published: May 18, 2009
Senior Clair Powell had some mixed feelings after completing the 1,600-meter run at Saturday's 3A state championships in Greensboro.
On one hand, Powell clocked in at 5 minutes, 26.11 seconds to crush her personal best time.
The mile, though, was run at a blistering pace with most participants easily besting their seed times.
Seeded as the No. 8 runner entering the event, Powell finished ninth to just miss a spot on the podium.
"I knew it would be a fast race," Powell said. "My main goal was to get my (personal record), which I'm really happy with. My other goal was to get on the podium, but I just missed it by less than a second."
Powell went out fast with the rest of the field, then slowed back to her pace after seeing her first-lap time of 1 minute, 15 seconds (5-minute pace).
"It was fast, and I was excited because I knew it would be my last race in high school," Powell said.
Powell, who will run next year at UNC-Asheville, blossomed into a star this season.
She opted to give up basketball and focus fully on cross country and track this year.
It obviously paid off. She was the top runner on the cross country and track teams, and she dropped her fastest mile time by about 40 seconds.
"I had no idea I was good at running until this year," Powell said with a laugh. "I guess it just came naturally. I've steadily improved my times. Coaching was a really big part as well. I've talked to other runners, and they don't do nearly as much as we do during practice."
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