Many athletes discover their competitive passion in elementary or middle school. Maybe high school for some. Seven-year-old Eli Pinney student Lane Markwas found that spark a little sooner. As his parents recall, “Lane ran his first two miles at two years old. It wasn’t fast, but it was incredible. He hasn’t really stopped!”

Lane is running a little faster these days. In fact, he’s surpassed his mom, Halle, who also happens to be his first running partner and coach. One of Lane’s favorite running memories is the 2023 Wayne County Turkey Trot. “It was the first time my mom let me run by myself,” he says. “I beat her, and when she told me I did a good job, I said, ‘I told you I’d smoke you.’”

Don’t mistake that confidence for cockiness. The pupil deserves some bragging rights when they surpass the master. Lane and Halle have been running together since he was 5. “My favorite running coach is my mom,” he says. “She taught me about exercising and pacing.” Most importantly, she taught Lane not to worry about other people’s pace and to listen to his body. Good advice for any young athlete.

He’s an excellent student. Lane has put mom’s advice into practice in other events, including the Fore! Miler, Fleet Feet Summer Run Series and the John Glenn International Runway 5k. “That’s pretty cool,” he says. “There were planes taking off and landing next to me!” Lane posted a career best time of 25:07 in that race for an average time of 8:07 per mile.

Lane trains for meets by running the trails around Muirfield with Halle. He also plays soccer for Club Ohio, which he enjoys because—you guessed it—he gets to run around a lot. His advice to aspiring runners mirrors the wisdom passed on by mom: “Make sure you have the right shoes, and find your own pace,” he says. “Listen to your body!”

If anyone is listening for the winner at a high school track meet someday, they’ll probably hear Lane Markwas’s name. If they miss it the first time, we’re pretty sure they’ll hear it again.