<p>No matter how much distance she has to cover after the starter’s pistol is fired, Lillian Lacy’s first order of business is always the same — get to the front of the pack as quickly as possible.</p>
<p>“I like to get out ahead, just to get that early confidence,” she said. “Sometimes, if I’m behind early in a race it discourages me, so it’s definitely better from the mental aspect of it.”</p>
<p>There’s no denying that the strategy is working for the Franklin freshman. After earning the Daily Journal’s Runner of the Year honors during cross-country season, Lacy has followed up with an equally impressive spring. She won both the 800 and 1,600 meters at the Johnson County meet, and she has also excelled in the 3,200 when she runs that.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]
<p>Grizzly Cubs coach Ray Lane says that he likes to move his athletes around through different events over the course of the season to keep everyone mentally sharp.</p>
<p>“We race a lot during the spring,” Lane said, “so we try to mix things up … to where it doesn’t matter what distance you’re running; you’re ready to go run a good time no matter what event you’re in.”</p>
<p>Lacy, who also placed in the high jump at the county meet, has fared well across the board — she has been the No. 2 point scorer for the Grizzly Cubs this season, right behind classmate Cami Kelsay.</p>
<p>Though all of her events on the track are shorter than the 5-kilometer races she ran during the fall, Lacy says that having a strong season on the trails helped boost her confidence for the spring.</p>
<p>The workouts that she’s been doing have given her the strength to match.</p>
<p>“I’ve never had training like I’m doing right now,” Lacy said. “I’ve never trained as much as I am right now, so that makes me feel a little better going into meets.”</p>
<p>The arrival of Lacy gives Franklin plenty of options in the distance events, where the newcomer pairs up with senior Emma Treibic.</p>
<p>Lane says he’s still waiting to see how the next few weeks shake out before deciding where to slot Lacy and Treibic for the postseason meets — but Lacy says that the 1,600 is where she currently feels most comfortable.</p>
<p>“The 800, I feel like it brings on more stress than a longer race like the 5K or the 2-mile,” she said, “just because it’s a shorter distance so you have less time to make up any mistakes. Or if you went out too slow, you don’t have as much time to make that up.”</p>
<p>All the more reason for Lacy to get out quickly, something that Lane is perfectly fine with.</p>
<p>“Her strength is her strength; she’s a really physically strong person, so she can string races out,” the coach said. “When she goes to the front, I’m okay with that.</p>
<p>“As far as her going out and taking control of the races, it’s something that we’re comfortable with doing and she’s comfortable with doing.”</p>
<p>It’s hard to not be comfortable with a system that’s been working out so well.</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="If you go" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Mid-State Conference meet</p>
<p>Where: Decatur Central High School</p>
<p>When: 5 p.m.</p>
<p>Teams competing: Franklin, Greenwood, Whiteland, Decatur Central, Martinsville, Mooresville, Plainfield</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
