Montville senior track standout Naomi Clark does a little of everything ... really well
Naomi Clark’s events a year ago mirrored that of the marquee athlete on the Montville High School girls’ track team, Kiah Strickland. Strickland hurdled, Clark hurdled. Strickland threw the javelin, Clark threw the javelin.
But what would happen when Strickland graduated and headed to compete for Southern Connecticut State University?
The versatile Clark, a senior who excels in three sports at Montville and who will go on to play basketball next year at UConn Avery Point, stepped in.
“She’s gotten off to an excellent start in the specialty events for us,” Montville coach Joel Finnegan said. “She’s clearly one of the best athletes (in the school). For us to survive, we need the Naomis of the world.”
“It’s my time to be first,” Clark said.
In Montville’s first track meet of the season, Clark won all four of her events, the 100-meter hurdles, 300 hurdles, javelin and pole vault. The Indians swept the tri-meet with Ledyard and St. Bernard. Clark was first in the 100 hurdles (17.3 seconds) and javelin (91-8, qualifying for the state meet) in Montville’s next venture, a 77-73 loss to Eastern Connecticut Conference Medium Division rival Stonington. She was also second in the 300 hurdles and the pole vault.
The Indians tied for second in last year’s ECC championship meet and, while missing Strickland, have added several strong freshmen to their lineup.
Clark was an ECC honorable mention pick for Montville in volleyball and girls’ basketball, a sport she’s played since the third grade and is only too happy pursue at the collegiate level.
She credits first-year Montville basketball coach Sam Cheung with helping her progression last season.
“He helped slow me down a little bit so I can make those baskets for my team. He’s friendly. He’s approachable,” Clark said of Cheung. “He’s friends with everyone. … I’m excited for college.”
Cheung didn’t realize his point guard was such a talented contributor in track, as well.
“I watched one of her meets,” Cheung said. “It wasn’t a surprise. She’s a gifted athlete. She’ll take your coaching or your constructive criticism.
“She was a joy to have. She wanted to get better all the time, every day. I can tell she was always paying attention to what I was doing. She saw the benefit of what I was trying to teach her and the next day she would try it out. To see her put it all together, it’s really a tribute to her. I think Naomi’s best years are ahead of her.”
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