Record-Breaking Performance: Parkview Baptist’s Lucy Cramer wins National Title in record form
by: William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor
Two months after diving into her newest challenge on the track, Parkview Baptist’s Lucy Cramer is not only a national champion, but a record holder in the event.
Cramer, who set a pair of Class 3A records at the LHSAA State Track & Field Championships in the 1600 and 3200-meter runs, set her bar for excellence even higher.
Competing for the U.S. Express Track Club, Cramer capped off her summer with a first place in the 15-16 girls 2,000-meter steeplechase event Thursday at the U.S. Track and Field National Junior Olympics in College Station, Texas.
“I really enjoy this event,” said Cramer, who can return to run in the same age group in 2025. “It’s new and all, but I enjoy racing in it and I have a lot of fun. I’ve found out that I’m really good at it. I’m going to definitely keep working at that. It would be great to run it in college.”
Cramer’s time of 6 minutes, 56.30 seconds was good enough to win the event, which was spread over two heats, by 33 seconds against a field of 24 competitors. Her mark was also a national record, eclipsing the previous record of 6:56.97 held by Colorado’s Eleanor Fulton in 2008.
“It was a fun race,” Cramer said. “The water jump was in a little different spot than what I’m used to running. I went out in the first lap to see what I could do. I was a little more tired than usual in the second lap, but I made sure I would keep up my good pace and good time.
“I was in the first heat and the faster girls were in the next heat,” Cramer said. “I was just trying to run as fast as I could, to set the time up to put me in a position to win. Then when I saw what the time was in the last 100. I had seen previously what the record was and I knew I could get it. I gave it all I had and I’m so grateful to God for giving me this experience and opportunity.”
Cramer, an outside back, helped Parkview’s soccer team repeat as the Division III state champion in March. The Eagles (27-0-1) completed the season as the state’s lone undefeated team.
Two months later, she was part of the school’s first state championship track team in 23 years, winning both the 1600 (5:00.31) and 3200 (10:50.50) meters with record times in the Class 3A meet.
Cramer decided to begin training and ran in her first steeplechase event on May 25 at the Running Lane Track Championships in Huntsville, Ala.
She won the race.
“I’ve always wanted to try the steeplechase,” Cramer said. “To finally have the chance to do it in a meet this year, I just wanted to see how I would do in it. I did kind of surprise myself from the first race because I had never run it. I was really happy to see where my time was. I knew from my training and with the distance events, I knew I had the speed, I had the endurance to do it.”
With a history of excellence in cross country and on the track in distance races, Cramer also had a slight background with running hurdles in middle school.
The 2,000-meter race also includes 18 barriers and five water pits, adding to the challenge for a 5-foot-3 distance ace.
“The first time I ran, I had to conserve a lot and had a lot left,” she said. “As I did more races I’m learning more, how to make sure I go hard, but make sure I save that energy for those last few jumps. Having tried the 100 hurdles a few times, I knew how to run track and knew I could get over those.”
Cramer qualified for the USTAF’s National Jr. Olympics by running in a U20 event that covered 3,000 meters, a race that also included collegiate competition.
She later turned in a personal best of 6:53.23 during the Nike High School Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon. She was fifth against a field of approximately 46 high schoolers that ranged from freshmen to seniors.
Cramer said her preparation for Thursday’s race included her normal distance work, mixed in with practice on the hurdles.
“I made sure I knew how to do the hurdles and the barriers, but hadn’t really made that into my training,” Cramer said. “It feels awesome. I’m so grateful to God for giving me all of these opportunities and abilities. Each and every day I’m thankful for all that he’s provided, going out there to practice, and to go hard and it’s to glorify Him. It gives me a bigger purpose than just myself.”