Ithaca’s Lani Bloom turns finals disappointment, lifestyle changes into cross country dominance

HEMLOCK, MI – Lani Bloom took her disappointment lying down.

The Ithaca junior finished 18th in the 2019 Division 3 girls cross country meet despite leading with 800 yards remaining, a disappointing finish albeit one that has motivated Bloom beyond cross country.

It changed her life.

“My blood sugar dropped, and I just fell off,” Bloom said. “I was not happy, so I made some changes.”

Bloom, who finished first in Tuesday’s Tri-Valley Conference West Jamboree at Hemlock High School, began eating three meals a day with plenty of water. She also self-imposed a 9:30 p.m. bedtime.

“Last season, I didn’t sleep well, and I didn’t eat well,” Bloom said. “I probably didn’t drink enough water, and it all caught up to me in the state final. It cost me. I should have finished second or third or maybe even first.”

Her new lifestyle showed almost immediate dividends.

“She set some goals for the indoor track season and met them almost immediately and then just kept going,” Ithaca coach Gene Lebron said. “She was on fire. She won the state title in the mile and had one of the top times nationally.

“We didn’t have a spring season, so she kept working on her own and timed her own splits. The times were amazing.”

Bloom set a personal record this season in 17 minutes, 26.5 seconds, more than a minute faster than last season’s previous best.

“Going to sleep at 9:30 isn’t that hard, and it has helped,” Bloom said. “And just eating better has made me stronger. I’ve gained weight.”

Bloom is 5-foot-8 and 120 pounds, 10 pounds heavier than last season.

“Last year’s state final really motivated her,” Lebron said. “She really dedicated herself to making herself a better runner and really focused on her health. She’s extremely driven.”

Bloom’s personal best is the fourth-best in the state this season and second in Division 3. The top time belongs to Muskegon Western Christian junior Abby VanderKooi, who won the only meeting between the two this season.

VanderKooi is the defending Division 4 state champion but will move up to Division 3 this season.

Bloom won Tuesday’s event in 18:20.82, followed by St. Louis junior Libby Munderloh in 19:58.59. Ithaca won the team event with 29 points, while St. Lous was second with 36.

Ithaca senior Braxton Lamey won the boys event in 17:00.13, leading the Yellowjackets to the team win ahead of St. Louis. Lamey’s personal record is 15:59.1, seventh in the state this season and fourth in Division 3.

Lebron said Bloom has not received any official scholarship offers, but she has received interest from Michigan, Syracuse, Northern Arizona and Minnesota.

“Ithaca is considered a football school, and sometimes Terry (Hessbrook) and I butt heads a little because we think the same and are passionate about what we do,” Lebron said. “But about seven or eight years ago, our cross country runners, especially the girls, wondered why we couldn’t do what football did.

“They made a conscious decision that they didn’t want to live in football’s shadow. Lani is benefitting from the path the girls ahead of her created, and she’s doing the same for the girls who will come after her. She is raising the bar.”

TVC West Jamboree

Girls

Team scores: Ithaca 29, St. Louis 36, Michigan Lutheran Seminary 110, Valley Lutheran 126, Bullock Creek 132, Standish-Sterling 154, Hemlock 155.

Individual Top 10

1. Lani Bloom, Ithaca 18:20.82

2. Libby Munderloh, St. Louis 19:58.59

3. Mikenna Borie, St. Louis 20:31.17

4. Grace Weburg, Ithaca 20:36.43

5. Jaiden Dickman, St. Louis 20:43.09

6. Allison Sowatsky, Valley Lutheran 20:49.32

7. Rachael Sierakowski, Ithaca 20:55.51

8. Abi Whitford, Ithaca 20:57.24

9. Liliana Lehnst, Ithaca 21:07.69

10. Claire Neumann, Valley Lutheran 21:25.75

Boys

Team scores: Ithaca 27, St. Louis 30, Valley Lutheran 114, Michigan Lutheran Seminary 126, Bullock Creek 133, Hemlock 139, Saginaw Nouvel 199.

Individual Top 10

1. Braxton Lamey, Ithaca 17:00.13

2. Parks Allen, Ithaca 17:07.28

3. Espen Lehnst, Ithaca 17:12.79

4. Aaron Bowerman, St. Louis 17:39.90

5. Nate March, St. Louis 17:40.46

6. Keegan Honig, St. Louis 17:40.67

7. Ben March, St. Louis 17:45.33

8. Dylan Marr, St. Louis 18:13.52

9. Joe Erickson, St. Louis 18:18.24

10. Nolan Woodman, Ithaca 18:36.03

MORE

Top 2020 girls cross country times in Michigan as of Sept. 28

Top 2020 boys cross country times in Michigan as of Sept. 28

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