Curt Clausen '90
Curt Clausen ’90, a New Jersey native, will make his third consecutive trip to the Olympic games when he represents the United States in race walking in Athens this August. A five-time U.S. champion in the 50-kilometer and 20-kilometer races—twice he broke the American record in the 50k-- Clausen placed 50th in the 20k race walk in Atlanta in 1996 and 22nd in the 50k race walk in Sydney. At the time, he was just happy to be there, he says. He’d been training only when he could find the time outside of pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at North Carolina State University. In the years leading up to the ’96 Olympic Games, Clausen worked as an administrative analyst for the Town of Chapel Hill. But following his 50th place finish, he realized he was not at the world-class level. So in ‘97 Clausen quit his job and moved to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California where he’s been training full time ever since. This time he wants a medal. He finished first at the 2004 Olympic Trials in February in the 50k with a time of 3:58:24. The 50-kilometer race will be on August 27. |
Jillian Schwartz '01
Jillian Schwartz ’01 had never pole vaulted before getting to college. But she learned quickly. Throughout her Duke career, she set records for both indoor and outdoor pole vault with heights of 13’5.25’’ and 14’2’’, respectively, became Duke’s top hurdler and high jumper as a sophomore, and was named Most Valuable Athlete for Duke women’s track & field in 1999. The Jonesboro, Arkansas native is a three-time All-America selection, a four time All-ACC honoree, and was the only Blue Devil named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Women’s Indoor Track & Field Team. Schwartz has been training for the Olympics since she graduated three years ago with a degree in economics. She placed 4th at the World Championships earlier in the year with a remarkable 15’1’’ vault, becoming only the fifth America woman to break 15 feet. The finals for the women’s pole vault will be on August 24. |
