Summer 2007: Clare competed at three events over the summer, the Grand Prix series Charlotte Ultraswim, the Mid-Atlantic Senior Championships, and U.S. Nationals. At the Charlotte Ultraswim, she placed 10th in the 400 IM and 14th in the 200 breaststroke. She logged a pair of top eight finishes at the Mid-Atlantic Championships, coming in eighth in the 400 IM and third in the 200 breast. At U.S. Nationals, she swam in the 200 breast, finishing 52nd.
2006-07: Clare made the transition from the junior college ranks to Division 1 swimming last year and became an important contributer to the Nittany Lions, swimming in mainly both breaststroke and both IM events. All of her swims the entire season except for one were in either the 100 or 200 breaststrokes or the 200 or 400 IMs. Clare peaked at the end of the year as she swam her fastest times in the 200 breast, 200 IM and 400 IM at Big Ten Championships, including logging an NCAA `B[apos] qualifying time in the 200 breast. She scored points for Penn State with a eighth place finish in the 200 breast (sixth in prelims) at Big Ten[apos]s and finished just outside the points with a 17th place showing in the 400 IM. On the year, she had one first place finish, two second place finishes, two thirds and two fourths. She had the third-fastest time of the year on the team in the 200 breast and the fifth-fastest in the 100 breast.
Meet-by-Meet Highlights: Placed second in the 200 breast and fourth in the 200 IM at the dual meet at West Virginia....Finished fourth in the 200 breast at the Clemson/Virginia/Virginia Tech/Penn State quad-meet....At the Bell Grand Prix, qualified for the finals in two events - the 200 breast and the 400 IM. Finished 15th in the 200 breast and 16th in the 400 IM....Took second in the 200 IM at the dual meet vs. West Chester....Placed third in the 200 breast and fourth in the 200 IM at the dual meet vs. Ohio State....Finished third in the 200 breast at the dual meet vs. Rutgers....Finished sixth in the 200 breast, eighth in the 400 IM and swam her second-fastest time of the year in finishing 12th in the 200 IM at the Shamrock Invitational.
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Junior College: Clare swam at Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Fla. under head coach Scott Kimbalman for each of the last two years. She helped lead the team to NJCAA national championships in each of her two seasons there. She broke the national junior college record in the 400 IM her freshman season.
High School: Clare was a two-time All-American in the 200 IM at St. Joseph-By-The-Sea on Staten Island, N.Y.
Personal: Clare was born on December 21, 1985. She is the daughter of Thomas and Anne Clemens and has a younger sister, Alison. She is majoring in communications. She lists shopping as a hobby.
Why I Chose Penn State: 'I love the campus and the school spirit and tradition is like no other school.'