Track & Field: Turella takes top-20 finish at nationals

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Sequim teen Clare Turella just keeps finding new bars to leap over and new personal milestones to set.

The Sequim High sophomore-to-be cleared 5 feet 1 inches at the USA Track & Field National Junior Olympic Championships at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, on July 25. The mark placed Turella 17th out of 51 competing high jumpers from across the nation, in the 15- to 16-year-olds division.

The effort was particularly satisfying for the youngster, her mom Kirsti noted, after failing to clear a height at the same event in 2023.

The finish provides a bridge between Turella’s upcoming season and a breakout freshman campaign that saw her sweep Olympic League, West Central Bi-District and Class 2A state titles in the high jump, with a personal best of 5-3 set at districts on May 18.