A UCF Signee and Foot Locker Finalist, Lastra Is The Defending 3A Champion 

By Todd Grasley for DyeStat

When Valerie Lastra was introduced to her Mater Academy cross country team in the fall off her freshman year, she entered the gym and almost tripped over her backpack. But any skepticism she might have caused quickly changed when her coaches and teammates saw her run her first race at the King of the Hill Cross Country Invitational.

“She came through the first mile at 5:33. I thought my watch was wrong,” Coach Al Parker said. “Then I realized what amazing and gifted talent she was blessed with and how much the team loved her. Watching her mature over time at Mater made her become more patient, understanding, and aware that in order to be successful you have to put in the hard work.”

Fast forward four years and Lastra is one of the most versatile distance runners in the state of Florida.

Last fall, as a junior, she won her first state championship and set an Apalachee Regional Park course record of 17:17.58. She followed that up with a nearly identical time and fourth-place showing at the Foot Locker South Regional. From there she went to the Foot Locker National Championships in San Diego and finished 26th.

The transition to the track was seamless. Lastra started the season with an 800-meter personal best of 2:14.07 at the Louie Bing Memorial Classic and won the prestigious Pepsi Florida Relays in a 1,600-meter personal best of 4:47.05.

At the state meet, she won her second consecutive 3A title at 1,600 meters and was runner-up in the 3,200-meter distance with a PR of 10:29.85.

Those performances led to a summer of great expecations, but illness has prevented Lastra from having the type of season she wanted. 

“I had the flu and other sickness, but I am still striving to have hope,” she said. “Training this year has been tougher, but I have been trying my best to keep going."

Lastra has been victorious in all but one of her races this season, but has yet to run under 18 minutes.

In the weeks leading up to the Florida state championships this Saturday, her goal has been to take care of herself and maintain faith.

“I want to finish with no regrets,” she explained. “I have learned a lot this year and am excited for what is ahead.”

Next Level

Lastra is a student of the sport and has been running since an early age. She’s been researching potential colleges for years and recently announced her decision to attend the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

The most important factor in her decision was her happiness and comfort.

“I mostly considered schools out of state, but later on realized it was unnecessary,” she said. “I realized that I can flourish in academics and athletics anywhere I go because 'the school does not make the student.' My mom told me this and I used her advice when choosing the university I was going to go to.”

The Knights haven’t been a traditional powerhouse and Lastra may be the best recruit for UCF since Anne-Marie Blaney (now with the Hanson-Brooks distance group). Lastra said the campus and team chemistry factored into her decision. 

“UCF is filled with athletes who are determined to be better not only in academics and athletics, but also in character,” she explained. “I feel like it is the place I was meant to be.”

Parker thinks UCF hauled in a major catch with Lastra.

“In my opinion, UCF has caught the big fish, one of the most multi-talent runners in Florida," Parker said. “She will do whatever it takes to be on top. She will give it her all, no matter what events they want her to run.”

With such versatility, Parker thinks a new event may even be a possibility.

“This may be a shocker, but on the next level Valerie has always talked about doing the steeplechase,” he said. “She finds it to be exciting as well and has fun running it.”