How cool is this?! Clara James-Heer, the 12-year-old who won the River Bank Run 5k is one of five finalists for Sports Illustrated’s 'SportsKid of the Year', according to MLive.

Clara has a pretty cool story since when she was 7 years old, she fell off the monkey bars and had a pretty serious back injury. MLive says that within 5 months she was fully recovered and back to running.

She ran the River Bank Run 5k in 17 minutes and 52 seconds, coming in 14th overall out of almost 3k runners.

Mlive reports that that accomplishment is just the beginning of her great year,

She has enjoyed a heck of a year. James-Heer swept the 12-year-old 800, 1,500, and 3,000 meters at the AAU 14-Under Youth Indoor National Championships (setting national records in the 1,500 and 3,000), won her division in the time trial and road race at USA Cycling Amateur Road Nationals and she was again a USA Triathlon youth age group champ.

 

Mlive says Clara will find out if she wins the Sports Illustrated award at the end of November.

 

 

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