Maroa-Forysth’s Eighner sets sights on IHSA state title before running in Big Ten
· Yahoo Sports
MAROA, Ill. (WCIA) – Maroa-Forsyth senior Klaire Eighner will take her talents to Michigan State for college.
However, the future Spartan hasn’t turned the page to East Lansing just yet. She’s staying present in the 2026 track season, hoping to finish her high school career strong.
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Eighner has found success in both the fall and spring throughout her high school career.
She finished 13th at 1A state cross country in 2024 as a junior, then sixth as a senior.
On the big blue track in Charleston, she took ninth in the 1600 in 2025, and 5th in the 3200.
Fresh off a 1600 personal best time of 4:55 on her way to a win at the Spartan Classic in St. Joseph, Eighner spoke with WCIA and expressed her excitement for her final IHSA postseason meets.
“It would mean everything to me,” she said, of potentially standing atop the podium in class 1A at state. “I’ve always wanted to be a state champion. And this year I really have a good chance of doing the double win at state. So it would mean a lot to me because I worked really hard to get my times faster through all of high school.”
Her recent 4:55 is 12 seconds faster than her mile time from 2025, and would’ve placed her third at state last spring.
She has also improved on her 10:55 3200 time from EIU’s campus in May of 2025, recently clocking 10:29 at the Sangamo Conference Championship. 10:29 would’ve earned second in 2025.
“Now I’m just trying to taper,” she said of training ahead of sectionals and state. “The workouts are just going to be getting easier, and shorter runs. Just making sure my legs and my body is fresh now for these races.”
Maroa-Forsyth is set to host its 1A girls’ track sectional on Thursday, May 14.
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