The track and field off-season continues to be a special one for Norwalk senior-to-be Claire Farrell.

Farrell earned gold medalist honors in the 400-meter dash and took bronze in the 100 while competing at the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships, held July 25-31 in Sacramento, California.

Representing the MVP Track & Field Club in the women’s 17-18 year old division, Farrell ran the fastest 400-meter prelim time of 55.07 seconds, then blazed to victory in the event final in 54.70 – believed to be the seventh-fastest 400 time run by an Iowa high school girl. Farrell won the 400 by more than a full second over her nearest competitor.

Farrell’s third-place time in the 100-meter dash final was 12.12 seconds – a mere .001 of a second behind the silver medalist. Farrell also competed in the 200-meter dash and clocked a semifinal time of 24.61 to place ninth, missing the final by just one spot and .02 of a second. She was one of just a few athletes to compete in all three sprint events.

Earlier this summer, Farrell competed in the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon and earned All-American status with a fifth-place time of 55.19 in the 400. She also finished 11th in the 200 and 16th in the 100.

At the Iowa State Track and Field Championships in May, Farrell placed second in the Class 4A 100, 200 and 400-meter events and also anchored Norwalk’s second-place sprint medley relay.