Go to Cal (ie the best academic school of your choices). If you can get in to better schools (ie Stanford, the Ivies) go there.
Running is a vapor that can disappear overnight.
I went to UCSB, and a HS competitor and friend went to Cal Poly. Both of us got into better academic schools but turned them down for "the running."
I got into Cal, but turned it down because Cal sucked at running at that time, and I thought I was going to be an Olympian.
We both had good fun running and enjoyable times, but we both marvel to this day over how stupid we were.
And don't listen to people that say "you can get a great education anywhere." Society doesn't value that. The dumbest guy from Harvard is going to have a much easier time being successful than the smartest guy from UCSB, simply because of the Harvard brand and the amazing people he forms connections with. Obviously this difference is less between UCSB and Cal, but the general point holds.
Play the cards you are dealt the best you can. Meaning don't go to an inferior school with the mindset that you can still be successful. You can, but why put yourself at a disadvantage right out of the gate?
Last point: my cousin went to Stanford. When we meet people, and the inevitable college questions come up, "I went to Stanford" is met with "ooh, wow." Instant respect. "I went to UCSB" is met with, "oh that's nice."