The562’s cross country and track & field coverage is sponsored by Joe Carlson & Debbie Hughes.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
A storybook junior season for Wilson High’s Clara Adams added another impressive chapter last weekend in Oregon. The fastest quarter-miler in California put her talents on the national stage at historic Hayward Field, competing in the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships.
In her signature race, the women’s 400m, Adams took the silver medal with a personal-best time of 51.61, competing against a national field of some of the top high school and college athletes under age 20.
The race was won by Ataja Stephane-Vazquez in 51.08, the seventh-fastest time for any high school runner. Stephane-Vazquez ran at the U20 Outdoor Championships last year and finished sixth in this race before coming back to win it. She’s signed on to attend the University of Georgia next season.
Adams was able to hold onto second place by just five hundredths of a second, beating out Taylor-Nicole Overton, an eight-time Florida state champion who’s signed with the University of Tennessee.
By finishing in the top two in her race and easily clearing the qualifying standard, Adams earned her spot to compete at the World U20 Championships, which will be hosted back in Eugene, Oregon from August 5-9. Adams announced on Instagram that she intends to run in the Open 400m and 4x400m relay during that competition.
During her junior season this past spring at Wilson High, Adams helped lead the Bruins to their fourth consecutive CIF State Championship, winning individual gold in the 200m and 400m at the state finals. She also helped Wilson win gold in the girls’ 4x400m relay, breaking the national high school record along the way.
