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Orinda Aquatics’ Claire Therien, of Danville, California, has made a verbal commitment to the Rice University class of 2020. Therien is a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All American from San Ramon Valley High School. She was a finalist at CIF’s inaugural California State Meet in May 2015, placing seventh in the 500 free and third in the 400 free relay, contributing to San Ramon Valley High’s overall third-place team finish.
Therien began swimming midway through her freshman year of high school, and has made great strides over the last three years. Her top times include
| SCY | LCM | |
| 50 free | 24.68 | 27.98 |
| 100 free | 51.93 | 59.43 |
| 200 free | 1:49.12 | 2:05.90 |
| 500/400 free | 4:53.91 | 4:23.62 |
| 1000/800 free | 10:06.93 | 9:07.47 |
| 1650/1500 free | 17:09.34 | 17:27.75 |
| 100 fly | 57.38 | 1:05.58 |
| 200 IM | 2:06.85 | 2:26.18 |
| 400 IM | 4:31.56 | 5:11.09 |
The Owls have a strong freestyle group, but their two highest 200/500/1650 scorers (then-senior Erin Flanigan and now-senior Taylor Armstrong) at last year’s Conference-USA Championships will both have graduated when Therien arrives in Houston. Therien’s best times would have placed her in the “A” finals of the 200 and 500 frees, and just ahead of current junior Anniina Ala-Seppala at 13th in the 1650.
In addition to Ala-Seppala, Rice boasts freshmen Sydney Franzen and Hanna Huston in their mid/long-distance freestyle group, so Therien will have a strong peer group with which to continue to develop from the moment she suits up as an Owl.
“The caring coaches, team family and awesome academic program made falling in love with Rice easy. I am excited to be swimming for Rice!”
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