Anchorage Daily News

Specimen. Man-child. Behemoth. Young giant.

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Jordan Clarke of Bartlett set records in shot put and discus.

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A variety of gushing, mannish and mighty words have rolled off the tongues of coaches, media and fans the last four years of Jordan Clarke's spectacular high school career.

But these quick-hitting adjectives were just attempts to describe his adult-like appearance playing football and throwing for the Bartlett Golden Bears track and field team.

No matter what words were used to paint the picture of this 6-foot-4, 280-pound teenager headed for Arizona State in the fall, one thing was certain -- he was a champion.

Clarke's record-setting performances in the shot put and discus at the Cook Inlet Conference and state meets were so impressive that he was selected as the 2008 Daily News Boys Prep Athlete of the Year by the Anchorage Daily News sports writers for the second consecutive year.

"He's pretty amazing," said John Schmitz, Bartlett's track and field head coach. "The last four years have been incredible. When he chooses a goal, he shoots for the moon."

Clarke is the third Bartlett athlete to win the boys award in seven years. Football stars Zack Bowman (2003) and Tui Alailefaleula (2001) won previously.

In an adn.com online poll, readers also selected Clarke as the best male athlete of the 2007-08 school year. He received 52 percent of the vote, while hockey star Rob Haider of South and multi-sport whiz Michael Odell of Kodiak tied for second with 14 percent.

In the fall, Clarke earned first-team all-state honors as a center -- the first season he played the position. But what set him apart from other prep standouts across the state was his nationally ranked status in the shot put and discus.

Last month he delivered a monster 71-foot, 3-inch heave at the state track and field meet in the shot put with more than 300 people watching at West Valley High in Fairbanks. It was the best throw by any high school athlete in the nation.

Clarke's throw shattered the state record of 60-1 he set last year.

He also uncorked a 173-3 discus throw to win the event in which holds the state record (192-7, 2007). The 194-8 discus he threw a week earlier at the conference meet ranked third in the nation at the time.

With a National Letter of Intent to throw for Arizona State in the bag, Clarke could have taken it easy to prepare for college. But that's not how the 17-year-old operates.

"If I don't work my hardest, it'll kill me on the inside," Clarke said. "I naturally push myself."

Even when the season was complete, Clarke was pushing himself to reach higher goals.

This week Clarke returned from Los Gatos, Calif., where he competed among some of the nation's best in the Golden West Invitational. He captured the discus title with a personal-best 204-10, and the shot put crown with a 64-10 1/2 heave.

With temperatures soaring into the high 80s and onlookers watching Clarke's every move, he performed. The events were back to back, which made the victories even tougher, and there was a lot of pressure.

"Everyone there knew about him," said Golden Bears throwing coach Kyle Lucey.

Lucey has known Clarke since he was in eighth grade at Wendler Middle School. Though his form wasn't superb, Clarke's size caught Lucey's attention immediately.

"He had absolutely no technique," Lucey said. "But his size was like 6-foot-2ish. So I thought, 'This kid has college potential.' "

Bartlett football coach John Jessen once recalled his first meeting with the eighth grader, then 6-3, 235 pounds.

"The gym shook," Jessen said. "I thought, 'Tell me this is a faculty member.' "

Born in a German family with history of producing 7-foot men, Clarke knows he holds a gift of size and strength. But his dedication and determination to become a better thrower is what could make him into a collegiate star.

Lucey pictures Clarke excelling in shot put and hammer throw at Arizona State.

And who knows? After college we may see Clarke represent the United States. His goal is to qualify for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team.

Even with all the goals and accolades he's earned in four years at Bartlett, Clarke remained humble as always.

Faculty member. Monster. Weight-room warrior.

Call him what you wish.

Clarke has heard it all and still keeps his own opinion.

"I think of myself as an every-day person," he said. "No better or no worse than any of my peers."

Find Kevin Klott online at adn.com/contact/kklott or call 257-4335.

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