Clare Howard named to Capital District Sports Women of the Year Class of 2021
SCHENECTADY, NY – Clare Howard, a senior at Taconic Hills High School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2021 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year.
Clare, who competes in cross country, alpine ski, soccer, swimming, and track & field, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 9 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Ticket information will be posted soon.
The Capital District Sports Women of the Year (CDSWOY) honors the best and brightest female student athletes from high schools and colleges in the Capital District of New York State. The student-athletes will be recognized for their achievements in academics, athletics, and community service. More information is provided at the website, cdswoy.com.
Academically, Clare is a member of the National Honor Society and is a NYS Athletic Administrators Association Scholar-Athlete nominee. She ranks third in her senior class and won the 2020 RPI Medal for Math and Science. She also won the 2020 RIT Award for Innovation and Creativity. Clare was accepted to play cello with the NYS Empire State String Youth Orchestra. She was an NYS School Music Association Soloist in cello, flute, and piano.
Athletically, Clare earned varsity letters in five sports, including dual sports in the fall (cross country and soccer) and dual sports in the winter (alpine ski and swimming) and with her spring sport, track & field. In track & field, she set new school records in the pentathlon, steeplechase, 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, 1600 relay and the 3200 relay. She was a two-time state qualifier, three-time Patroon Conference 400 Hurdle Champion, and a three-time Patroon Conference First Team All Star. She was the MVP in 2018 and 2021, 2019 Coach Award recipient and member of the 2018 and 2019 conference title teams as well as the Section II title teams in 2017 and 2019. Clare earned three Section 2 title in 2021 and was named the Patroon Conference Track MVP. At the 2021 Colonie Relays, Clare was first in the 400 hurdles and set school and meet records while posting the fastest time in the State at 1:03.86. She was third in the heptathlon at the USATF Youth National Championships. In swimming, Clare set a new school record in the 400 free relay and was the 2021 captain. Her team won the 2018 Southern Division Championship. In skiing, Clare was named a 2021 Section II First Team All Star for Alpine Skiing and earned her team’s MVP award. She was co-captain of the high school ski team for two years and earned the Leadership Award in 2020. On weekends during the winter seasons, Clare competed for the Catamount Alpine Ski Racing Team. She qualified to compete in the NYS Ski Championships for three years and had to be one of the top 10 in Section 2 to qualify. Clare qualified for the USA Ski under 16 women’s finals and the under 19 women’s finals.
Clare’s community service includes volunteering to help run a youth track program and with the humane society as a dog walker. She was treasurer for her class for three years and Senior Class President. Clare also worked as a board representative for the Scholarship Committee for Dollars for Scholars, and a senior class representative for the school’s reopening committee during the Covid-19 closure.
CDSWOY will announce the next student-athlete recipient on June 23 and Mondays and Wednesdays through July 21. A total of 10 high school and two college female student-athletes will be honored.
