A few years ago, Victor and Jeryl Nagy made a deal with their daughter, Lacy, that if she broke the girls' cross-country individual record at Woodmore, they would buy her a new Ford Mustang.

“That's what my incentive was since my freshman year,” said Nagy, a senior. “I've never gotten close to the record, so my mom and dad have never had to worry. I might not take them up on the Mustang offer. Maybe I'll get something more practical for right now.”

The school record of 18 minutes, 36 seconds is held by Lindsay Hamilton, a star on the Wildcats' cross-country and track teams in the 1990s.

Last Saturday, at the Division III, District II meet at Eells Park in Bettsville, Nagy ran a career-best time of 18:57.21. A week before that, on the same course, she won her third straight individual crown at the Suburban Lakes League meet by finishing in 19:11.87.

Third-year Woodmore cross country coach Mike Moreno said he won't be surprised if Nagy gets the school record this Saturday, at the regional meet at Hedges-Boyer Park in Tiffin, or next weekend at the state meet in Columbus.

“Realistically, she'll get pushed the next two weeks on tough courses,” Moreno said. “Those two meets bring it out of people. I think she can get down to 18:40. I know she's shooting for the school record. Before this year, her magic goal was 19:20.”

Three-time Suburban Lakes League champion Lacy Nagy leads the pack at the Lakota Invitational. (Press photo by Dean Utendorf/www.wood morephotos.com)

Nagy easily won the individual title at last week's district meet, and Woodmore placed fourth in the team standings to qualify for Saturday's regional. The state meet is Nov. 6 at Scioto Downs.

Nagy will be one of the favorites at the regional, where she's placed second the last two years.

“My normal race strategy is to get out as fast as I can and hold on to it,” said the 5-foot-9 Nagy, a three-time state qualifier. “I've never really had a strong kick at the end. I have to get out early and hold my ground. I'd really like to come away with first place because I've been runner-up the past couple years. It should be a really good race and I hope to come out with a victory and improve my time from last week.”

Nagy will be joined by teammates Angelica McCoy, a senior who placed sixth (20:16.1) at the district meet, freshman Allie Wank (17th, 21:14.7), sophomore Karlie Sasscer (20th, 21:40.4) and senior Raveek Kaur (65th, 27:43.1).

Moreno, who also coaches the Wildcats' boys team, said he likes to train the boys and girls together. In fact, Nagy is Woodmore's fourth-fastest runner, regardless of gender.

“She's my team captain, and I only have one captain,” Moreno said. “I felt she could lead the team. I have no boy captain and the kids respond well to her. They know the type of runner she is and the time and commitment she puts into it.”

Nagy, who is No. 1 in her class academically with a 4.016 GPA, is a member of Woodmore's flag corps and she plays the clarinet in the school concert band and pep band. She is involved in 4-H, FFA, Teen Advisory Group (TAG), Key Club, and the National Honor Society.

“She's one of the most well-rounded kids I've ever come across,” Moreno said. “Lacy has a level head on her shoulders and she knows what she wants out of life and she goes after it.”

You can bet that Nagy will be focused during Saturday's regional meet in Tiffin. Her goal entering high school was to become a four-time state qualifier.

“I made it my freshman year and it was my goal to make it every year after that,” she said. “I wanted to make it all four years. Not many people get to say that.”

As a freshman, Nagy finished the rugged Scioto Downs course in 19:41.87 to take 33rd place. She took 14th two years ago, in 19:24.86, but dropped to 28th last year (20:18.94). A torn rib cage muscle last spring threw a monkey wrench into her offseason cross-country training.

“I was kind of down mentally last year,” Nagy said.

Nagy's goal this season is to finish in the top eight at Scioto Downs.

“The top eight stand on the podium,” she said, “and that's always been my goal. I trained up to about 45 miles a week by the end of this summer. The highest I've ever gotten before that was 30 miles a week, and that was a stretch.”

Nagy's plan is to compete in cross country and track at Ohio State.

“Ohio State is the closest school around here that has the academic program I want,” she said. “I've been to their cross-country camps the last two years and I love the coaches there. Being able to run at the collegiate level would be awesome.”

But there is still one goal that needs to be accomplished in high school.

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