PRESS-TELEGRAM GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2025-26
Name: Clara Adams
School: Long Beach Wilson
Year: Junior
Sport: Track and field
Notable highlights: Wilson junior sprinter Clara Adams has been selected as the Press-Telegram girls athlete of the year after winning individual state titles in the 200 and 400 meters at the CIF State Track and Field Championships. Adams also ran on Wilson’s 4×400 relay that finished first and helped the Bruins win their fourth consecutive state team title.
“It feels really good and I’m really proud of myself because the average person probably wouldn’t be able to do something like that,” Adams said. “And it just tells me that anywhere I go, anywhere I move, wherever I run, I’m doing something. I’m a name. I’m someone to look out for, and it just tells me the kind of athlete I am.”
Clara Adams is a Press-Telegram athlete of the year at Wilson High School in Long Beach on Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Clara Adams is a Press-Telegram athlete of the year at Wilson High School in Long Beach on Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Sprinter Clara Adams is a Press-Telegram athlete of the year at Wilson High School in Long Beach on Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Long Beach Wilson’s Clara Adams wins the 400 meters at the Moore League track and field finals on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Long Beach Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
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Clara Adams is a Press-Telegram athlete of the year at Wilson High School in Long Beach on Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Adams’ season included her setting a school record in the 400 (51.98) at the CIF-SS Masters Meet on May 23. During the same meet, she helped set new school and California records in the 4×400 relay in 3:33.83.
“It feels good to have records like that at a school like (Wilson),” Adams continued. “It took a lot of hard work.”
Wilson coach Neil Nelson said Adams, a transfer from North Salinas High School, made an immediate impact in her first season as a Bruin.
“They respect what she did (and) it pushed the team,” Nelson explained. “I think everybody was like, we have to step our game up.”
The senior, who also won Moore League titles in the 200 and 400, is looking forward to running faster next season.
“Now moving forward, it’s just about breaking my own records,” Adams said.