EUREKA - Olivia Klaus would have been a good runner even if cross country and track didn't have things like team scoring and relays.

The fact they did made all the difference to the Eureka High School valedictorian, who turned team hopes into the dreams that drove her to four state crowns - two individually and two in relays.

Klaus' efforts have made her The Pantagraph Female High School Athlete of the Year.

"It definitely made it more enjoyable," said Klaus of team scoring. "It makes it feel like more of a team sport.

"I like the team aspect better than the individual. It makes it more fun to celebrate and be around other people."

Klaus gave Eureka teammates, coaches and fans repeated reasons to celebrate.

The Miami of Ohio recruit's senior year alone featured a Class 1A state title in cross country and a Class A state 1,600-meter run crown in track.

Klaus finished with a combined 16 career state meet medals in cross country and track with the latter including state titles this year and in 2006 in the 3,200 relay.

Klaus saved her most remarkable state meet for last, one which Coach Don Samford labeled "the best state performance I've seen from a Class A performer in history."

On May 17 at Charleston, she rallied her 3,200 relay to victory with a 2-minute, 10.3-second split, came back 45 minutes later for second in the 3,200 in 11:26.99, returned 100 minutes later to capture the 1,600 in 5:07.01 before finishing 35 minutes later with a 59.6-second leg on the third-place 1,600 relay to give her team the second-place trophy.

"I think we'll be talking about this one for years to come," said Samford, who credits assistant coach Brandon Heider for overseeing Klaus' training.

Klaus keyed four top-11 state finishes for her track team, which was sixth in 2007, fifth in 2006 and 11th in 2005.

Eureka cross country coach Brett Charlton saw the same team-emphasis from Klaus as she led the Hornets to second in the state last fall, 13th in 2006, eighth in 2005 and sixth in 2004.

"She was always willing to do what she could for her team," said Charlton of the runner who placed second in the state in 2006, 14th in 2005 and 12th in 2004. "Having a girl like her around helped others rise up and do better themselves."

While many girls get slower as they mature, Klaus got faster, clocking 17:27 for 3 miles in cross country.

"She's a year-round runner," Charlton said. "That's what it takes to be successful in track and cross country."

Klaus filled the time between those sports as a starter for Eureka's 19-7 basketball team, earning all-Corn Belt Conference honorable mention.

"She didn't get tired very easily," confirmed Eureka basketball coach Stan Prosser. "That was a key to our success. She was just constantly hounding people defensively. She made it miserable on people."

Charlton and Samford have no doubt Klaus will continue to improve for Miami of Ohio coach Richard Ceronie, who recruited her to be an NCAA qualifier.

"I have had several freshmen make it to the NCAA Championships and Olivia possesses the same skill set as those people," he said.

Ceronie originally thought Klaus would excel at the 3,000 steeplechase because of her durability and toughness.

"But her 2:10 (800) gives me some thoughts on how much we can develop (her in) the true middle distance events," he said. "I think this will be a work in progress and her range will allow us to make some interesting choices."

Klaus, a future elementary education and math major, ended her high school career owning school records in the 800 (2:15.48), 1,600 (5:06.1) and 3,200 (10:57.9).

"It's definitely what I'd been working for since I was a sophomore," said Klaus of her record haul. "It makes me feel accomplished."

She makes others feel happy to be in her presence.

"With the girls, she's a big time cutup," Samford said.

What the fourth oldest of Patrick and Debbie Klaus' five daughters will miss most about high school is the support she received from coaches, faculty and friends.

"It will be different going away and not having that strong support anymore," she said.

That support included dietary advice from Samford, who saw Klaus running out of energy during track meets early in her career.

"What you put in your body is what you run on," he said. "I never make weight an issue with girls. I don't care what you weigh as long as you eat properly for the fuel."

"It's what I struggled with the most," admitted Klaus. "I had to concentrate on what to eat, when to eat and what the best thing to eat was during race day."

What few observers could tell was how nerves ate Klaus up inside.

"I probably seemed calm because I was too nervous to do anything else," she quipped. "I always get nervous, even if it's a small race. I've never gotten over nervousness."

That can happen when one can't bear to let the team down.

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Past winners

Pantagraph Female High School Athletes of the Year:

2002-03 - Jessie Shay, Olympia

2003-04 - Ashlee Pistorius, University High

2004-05 - Chandra Golden, University High

2005-06 - Stacey Miller, Central Catholic

2006-07 - Megan Laughlin, Flanagan

2007-08 - Olivia Klaus, Eureka