Claire Kovarik

Claire Kovarik

Yr. Jr.
Hometown Downers Grove, Ill.
High School (Prev. School) Downers Grove North

2021 (Track & Field): Was the lone Valpo athlete to participate in the 3000 steeplechase, recording a season-best 13:25.09 on April 16 at the Gibson Invitational… Earned MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award, MVC Academic Honor Roll and Valparaiso University Presidential Academic Honors… Received the Top of the Class Award, which is presented annually to graduating Valpo student-athletes with a GPA of 3.9 or better. 

2020-21 (Cross Country): Did not compete in the MVC Championship, the team’s lone race of the season.

2020 (Track & Field): Competed in three meets for Valpo… Ran her career best in the mile, a time of 5:59.94, on Feb. 7 at the University of Chicago’s Windy City Rumble… Ran her fastest 3000 of the season on Feb. 15, recording a time of 12:06.64 at the GVSU Big Meet.

2019 (Cross Country): Competed in five meets for Valpo during her sophomore campaign… Ran her career-best 5K on Oct. 4 in Notre Dame at the Joe Piane Invite, finishing in 21:23.17… Also ran a PR in the 6K at Bradley Pink Classic on Oct. 18, a time of 26:42.5.. Ran 22:42.0 at the MVC Championship on Nov. 2 in Valparaiso.

2019 (Track & Field): Saw action in three indoor events as a freshman…. Had her best indoor 5K time of 21:21.19 at the Jan. 25 GVSU Open… Recorded a career-best time in the 3000-meter run on Feb. 15 at the GVSU Tune-Up, finishing at 11:58.01, the team’s third-best mark of the season… Set personal bests in the 5000-meter run (21:13.40) on March 23 at the Bill Cornell Spring Classic and the 3000-meter steeplechase (12:50.88) on May 12 at the MVC Outdoor Championships.

2018 (Cross Country): Competed in all six events for Valpo during her freshman season…Logged her season-best 5K performance at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships, coming in at 21:23.6…Recorded a fifth-place team finish at the Crusader Open.

Prep: Competed on a team that won 2018 outdoor and 2016 indoor conference titles… Earned three varsity letters in track & field and three in cross country… Was a two-year cross country captain… Was a member of National Honors Society (two years) and National Art Honor Society (two years) while earning a place on the honor roll all four years of high school.

Personal: Double majoring in chemistry and physics… Daughter of Dina Kay and Matthew Kovarik… Born on June 26, 2000.