It’s amazing there is any tread left on the bottom of her sneakers since distance-running standout Ciara Clinton just never stops. With a relentless work ethic and a pursuit of academic excellence, Clinton has solidified herself as one of the most decorated Highlanders in recent history, a journey that has now reached its pinnacle with her being named the Passaic County Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
Since her freshman year, Clinton has dominated the trails and the track. She is an 11-time county champion, a multi-season team MVP, and a captain who led the Highlanders to a perfect 7-0 record and a conference title. Her record-breaking career includes a 19:18.00 in the 3.09-mile run and an 18:18.00 in the 5K. These impressive statistics, how-ever, are only one part of her story.
Her final indoor track season was nothing short of phenomenal; Clinton sec-ured two sectional titles on the same day—the 1600-meter (5:11.67) and the 3200-meter (11:12.05). These times secured her runs in the NJSIAA Group 2 State Championships, where she placed 4th in the 3200 with a stunning finish of 10:58.65.
This momentum carried seamlessly to the spring track and field season where Clinton just rounded out her high school career at the Meet of Champions, where she earned some additional PRs, notably in the 3200 with a time of 10:37.40, and in the 1600 with a time of 5:09.12. She additionally had a new PR this season in the 800 with a time of 2:29.00.
Coincidentally, the Meet of Champtions took place the same night of WMHS’s Community Scholarship Night, where Clinton’s name was accounced more than once.
This is because aside from maintaining a rigorous athletic schedule and grueling training routine, Clinton has also pushed herself academically to be one of the top students in the Class of 2026.
But for Clinton, the experience is about more than just numbers. When asked about her favorite season, she finds it impossible to choose. “I love all seasons so much; they are so different,” she said. “The environment and the girls for cross country are irreplaceable. The energy for winter track and the long bus rides home from Ocean Breeze are so fun. The weather and the night races for spring track are so memorable.”
Of all her events, the 3200-meter holds a special place in her heart. “I love this event so much because it challenges me both phys-ically and mentally,” she explained.
Her mindset is grounded in a philosophy that helped her navigate the balance between honors level aca-demics and athletics. “ [I] work hard and have fun,” she said. “I learned to trust the process and enjoy it too. I motivate myself every day by knowing that in track, it is you against you, and every day I work to be better than I was the day before.”
She balances this intense focus with a personal ritual to reward her hard work. As she puts it: “Knowing that after my run, an iced chai is waiting for me, motivates me every day!”
Now, she prepares to take those skills to Siena University this fall, where she will major in accounting and compete in Division I Cross Country and track.
Leaving West Milford on the high note of winning the prestigious Passaic County Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award, Clinton is reflective about her time as a Highlander. “I am going to miss my teammates and coaches. It is so hard to part with such an amazing and supportive school,” she said.
Her advice to fellow Highlanders is straight-forward: “Trust the process, stay consistent, and always work to become the best version of yourself. The same mindset applies to academics. Put in the effort, stay organized, and give your best both in the classroom and in your sport. Balancing academics and athletics can be challenging, but with strong time management, discipline, and hard work, it is absolutely possible to succeed in both.”
As she moves on, Ciara remains grateful for her time at WMHS, always ready to represent her school with pride: “Go, Highlanders!”
