Clara D’Amico, a senior at Newtown High School, broke the school record for the 2K Steeplechase, which had stood since 2016. She attended the Glenn D. Loucks Memorial Track & Field Games the morning after senior prom and secured a spot at The Nike Outdoor Nationals with a time of 7:36.45. The Loucks Games are a nationally renowned, elite track & field meet held in White Plains, N.Y. each May.

The 2K Steeplechase involves hurdling over large, immobile barriers and a water jump — earning its reputation for being an intense event. Unlike hurdle races, steeplechase barriers don’t move from their position if they’re hit by a runner. They’re also much larger than hurdles, spanning several lanes on the track.

For women, barriers are 2.5 feet high and one barrier is placed right in front of the water jump. The water jump is 12 feet long and has a pit with an upward slope that’s deeper near the barrier.

D’Amico will attend Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in the fall, where she will study finance. She will ride on their equestrian team and continue to run as a hobby.