Maroa-Forsyth senior Klaire Eighner has a lot on her mind—and on her racing shoes. The standout distance runner has already committed to Michigan State for college, but before she trades her high school singlet for Spartan green, she's laser-focused on one final goal: an IHSA state championship.

Eighner has been a force in both cross country and track throughout her high school career. In the fall, she placed 13th at the 1A state cross country meet as a junior, then improved to sixth as a senior. On the track, she took ninth in the 1600 meters and fifth in the 3200 meters at the 2025 state championships.

Now, she's hitting her stride at exactly the right time. Fresh off a personal best of 4:55 in the 1600 meters at the Spartan Classic in St. Joseph, Eighner is brimming with confidence heading into her final postseason meets.

"It would mean everything to me," she said of the possibility of winning a state title. "I've always wanted to be a state champion. This year I really have a good chance of doing the double win at state. It would mean a lot because I've worked so hard to get my times faster through all of high school."

That 4:55 is a full 12 seconds faster than her mile time from last season—a mark that would have placed her third at the 2025 state meet. She's also made significant strides in the 3200 meters, dropping from 10:55 at last year's state meet to 10:29 at the Sangamo Conference Championship. That time would have earned her second place in 2025.

With sectionals and state looming, Eighner is shifting her focus to recovery and sharpening. "Now I'm just trying to taper," she explained. "The workouts are going to get easier, and the runs shorter. I'm just making sure my legs and body are fresh for these races."

Maroa-Forsyth will host its 1A girls' track sectional on Thursday, May 14. For Eighner, it's the next step on a journey that could end with her standing atop the podium—and a future that includes racing in the Big Ten.