Junior Sheba Clarke didn’t run a race until her freshman year of high school. Since then, she has built a solid list of accomplishments.

While in high school, Clarke won the state championship in the 400 meters during her junior and senior seasons. Also as a senior she placed second in both the 100 and 200 meter races.

“I didn’t think about running in college until my junior year of high school. It was one race in particular. I had just come back from an injury and I ran my fastest time ever. At the time it was one of the fastest times in Missouri,” Clarke said. “It stayed up there as one of the fastest for a year or so. That is when I started seriously thinking about running in college.”

Clarke, who runs the 60-meter dash, 200 and 4×400 meter relay indoors and the 100, 200, 4×100 and 4×400 meter relays outdoors, was referred to Iowa State by a cousin of sprinting coach Scott Roberts.

“My cousin keeps an eye on all the Kansas City-area talent. We flew Sheba up here and afterwards on the way to catch her flight out she fell asleep in the car,” Roberts said. “We weren’t sure if that was because she didn’t like it or she was just tired. We are glad that we got her.”

Clarke chose Iowa State over Indiana, Kansas and Kansas State.

“I liked my visit and I stayed in contact with Coach Roberts. He was really consistent; he never gave up,” Clarke said. “He is one of the reasons I came here. He really cared.”

Clarke, who was recruited to run the 400 because of her success in high school, has been a pleasant surprise as a sprinter.

“We thought we were getting a good quarter-miler, but instead we got a great sprinter,” Roberts said. “She has qualified twice for the NCAA provisionally.”

Of all her events, Clarke prefers the 60-meter dash.

“I like it because it is one of my best events and because it is short and quick. It is a more technical race that requires lots of natural talent,” Clarke said. “There is really no thinking – you just go. As long as I stay relaxed and just think about the start I am fine.”

Some of Clarke’s big finishes include a third-place finish in the 60-meter dash at the Big 12 indoor championships. Other school records Clarke owns indoors are in the 60 at 7.43 and in the 4×400 meter relay with a time of 3:42. Outdoors, she holds school records in the 4×100 meter relay and the 4×200 meter relay with times of 44.75, and 136.26, respectively.

Roberts said one of the reasons Clarke has excelled at Iowa State is because of her level of maturity and leadership.

“The best thing she brings is maturity. She is someone who is focused on what she needs to do. She has done all I have ever asked her to do,” he said. “She is our fastest sprinter and the younger kids look up to her in that regard.”

Freshman sprinter Keisha Jefferson agreed.

“She is a real hard worker and she is really dedicated to the team. She is a good friend and you can talk to her about anything,” Jefferson said. “I first met her at a meet at Texas A&M. I was still in high school and we got along real well the first time we met. She was one of the reasons I came here.”

Hopes for Iowa State this season are high after the team finished the indoor season 13th nationally.

“Right now we have a young team, but a lot of potential. Everyone is eager to run and compete,” Clarke said. “We do have very good senior leadership, and that will help us as the season goes on.”