Background
Clark was born in Livingston, New Jersey. She is the daughter of inner-city educator Joe Louis Clark, who inspired the film Lean on Maine, and the sister-in-law of fellow Olympian Jearl Miles-Clark.
Clark was born in Livingston, New Jersey. She is the daughter of inner-city educator Joe Louis Clark, who inspired the film Lean on Maine, and the sister-in-law of fellow Olympian Jearl Miles-Clark.
Clark attended Columbia High School.
Clark graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor"s degree in sociology in 2001. Clark was honored for her college athletic record when she was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 2012. She finished seventh at the 2000 Olympic Games.
At the 2001 World Championships, she did not progress past the first round due to injury.
In 2001, she was given a warning for using pseudoephedrine. At the 2004 Olympics, Clark was eliminated from her first-round heat in the 800 meters after a freak accident where she was burned severely.
She then had two good seasons with an eighth place at the 2005 World Championships, seventh place at the 2005 and 2006 World Athletics Final, and a sixth place at the 2006 World Cup. She finished her 800 meters Olympic heat in fifth place with a time of 2:01.59, and did not advance to the semifinals.
Clark has appeared in three global Nike ads appearing in fashion magazines, stores, and billboards.
She has been marketed by Nike as a spokesmodel throughout her career. Her ex-husband, Wenston Riley, proposed to her on national television in 2004.
Clark was a member of the United States. Olympic team in 2000, 2004 and 2008.