NEW YORK - Lakeview High School senior Maggie Farrell earned All-American status on Sunday at the New Balance Nationals Indoor at the New Balance Armory in New York City.

Farrell clocked in a time of 10 minutes, 17.34 seconds in the 3,200-meter run to place fifth overall. Brie Oakley of Aurora, Colorado was the national champion with a 9:56.06.

Farrell is the reigning Division 1 Cross Country state champion and 'Miss Cross Country' Award winner. She was all-state as a junior in the 1,600-meter run, finishing sixth in 4:59.03. She is committed to run at Michigan State University.

Nick Buckley can be reached at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley

GRAND RAPIDS - After a fall season that saw her dominate some of Michigan's top cross country runners, Lakeview High School senior Maggie Farrell is happy to have people to truly race against.

The Michigan State University commit, Division 1 cross country state champion and 'Miss Cross Country' award winner competed at the Michigan Indoor Track Series (MITS) State Meet at Aquinas College on Sunday, placing third in the 1,600 meter run with a time of 4 minutes, 59.19 seconds. Runners at the state meet were only permitted to enter one individual running event and one relay.

"At this level, everybody is so fast, it’s just a little easier for me," Farrell said.

Farrell's effort at the indoor state meet came on the heels of her national-best indoor time in the 3,200 meter run. At the fourth MITS Meet at Grand Valley State University on Feb. 18, she finished her signature race in 10:31.22.

"It’s really hard to process, because not only it's the No. 1 time, but because of where I was last year," Farrell said. "It’s hard to process because of how far I’ve come."

Farrell made a big jump during her junior year. She finished the 2015 cross country season by placing 93rd at the Division 1 Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) State Finals. She ended the year by placing sixth in the 1,600 at the MHSAA Track Finals with a time of 4:59.23 to earn All-State honors.

As a sophomore, Farrell attended the 2014 NCAA Cross Country National Championships, where she saw the Michigan State University women's team claim the Division I title. She credits that experience as her motivation to become an elite-level runner.

“I went there with some teammates and I was watching the girls and I noticed they are really fast girls," Farrell said with a laugh. "It was the year MSU won, I and I remember I wanted to be a part of it. But it was overwhelming because they were so fast. I remember watching them when they learned they had won, and saw the looks on their faces. I knew I would never be happy with just watching. So I started putting in the work."

Farrell teamed up with personal trainer Rob Lillie of Kalamazoo for her offseason work, and she credited the addition of strength exercises to her running regimen as a big reason for her improvement.

Farrell will next compete against some of the best in the country when she races in the 3,200 at the New Balance Nationals Indoor, March 10-12, at The Armory Track and Field Center in New York City.

“I’m really excited, that was my whole goal of the season - to go to New Balance Nationals," said Farrell. "It’s going to be really cool, because at that level, there is so many girls around the same time that anybody can take the national title. Because it’s so many different girls, I’m excited to have more girls around me in the race...  I never dreamt I could go to this a couple years ago, and I remember looking at the photos and watching the live stream online."

After the New Balance Nationals Indoor, Farrell will turn her focus to the MHSAA Track and Field season, as she'll finish up her career with the Lakeview Spartans before joining the Michigan State Spartans. She'll likely be among the favorites at the Division I State Finals in both the 1,600 and 3,200, and could perhaps finish as one of the state's all-time best distance runners. Former Grosse Pointe South standout and current University of Michigan runner Hannah Meier holds the MHSAA records in both the 1,600 (4:39.23) and the 3,200 (10:08.23).

"I know that my focus this year will be on the 3,200 and I want to go 10:15 and it would be cool to get a state title," Farrell said. "The mile - I want to get low 4:50s, that’s kind of my mindset. My senior year, I just want to give it all I have in track and not have any regrets. I’m at a good level and a competitive level, but I don’t want to settle for what I’m doing right now. I want to improve."

2017 MITS FINALS

Local results

Girls 1,600: Maggie Farrell (Lakeview), third, 4:59.19; Makenzie Wank (Gull Lake), 20th, 5:23.82

Girls 3,200: Ava Strenge (St. Philip), third, 11:06.84

Girls 60 hurdles: Jasmine Wellet (Coldwater), 12th, 9.74

Boys weight throw: Connor Covert (Coldwater), first, 61-10.50

Boys shot put: Connor Covert (Coldwater), eighth, 49-5.50

Boys 3,200: Shuaib Aljabaly (Coldwater), 11th, 9:47.16

Nick Buckley can be reached at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley