Older brothers have the ability to make their younger siblings participate in activities they don't want to.

When Penn State junior Claire Percival was in the fourth grade, her brother Graham came into her class and said, "Claire, come outside and run in this race."

She reluctantly agreed.

"I ran the 1,500 [meters] and that was my first real race," she said. "After that it was every year, and in eighth grade I started taking it more seriously."

She used this as a stepping-stone to become one of the top runners on the Penn State women's cross country team.

During her sophomore year, Percival emerged as one of the leading contributors on the team, with top-20 finishes in the Spiked Shoe Invitational and the Penn State National. However, her season was cut short because of an injury.

Now that she's back to full strength, Percival has helped the team to victories in its first three meets. She's been in the team's top five in every competition and had a fourth-place finish at the Dolan Duals, hosted by Lock Haven University.

"She's a vital part of the team," Penn State sophomore Cheryl Spring said. "We couldn't do as well without her. We can always count on her to do her part."

Percival is a native of Sarnia, Ontario, making her the only international student on the team.
Despite being from Canada, she always knew she wanted to go to college in the United States because the programs are more intense, she said.

Penn State was the closest school she looked at and it didn't take her long to realize this was the place for her.

"While I was at the airport, I called my mom and said 'Mom, I have to come here, I'm going to Penn State,' " Percival said.

Percival brought with her the experience of being on the 2004 World Junior Team. This event took her to Italy to run in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She is also a provincial state champion in the 1,500-meter race.

Even though she's been performing well, individual statistics aren't her main concern.
"Claire is a quiet individual who is a great team player," Penn State coach Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "She always makes a difference for the team and puts her teammates before herself."
Despite loving the school and traveling all across North America, Percival's move to State College wasn't as easy as expected.

"I missed my friends and family," she said. "It was a big adjustment coming here at first because I didn't know anyone or anything."

While at first she was overwhelmed, Percival now feels as if Penn State is her second home.
"My friends are here and my family is able to come down and visit," she said. "I couldn't picture a better place to live or go to school. It's perfect."

State College gave her an opportunity to start from scratch, she said. It was one of the defining factors for choosing Penn State.

Percival has made many friends on the cross country team and enjoys spending time with them off the course, she said.

She visited teammate Bridget Franek last summer after they competed at regionals. Franek took Percival on her first tandem bicycle ride.

"She's a really great person," Franek said. "She's fun to run and hang out with. We kid about her being Canadian all the time."

Percival is going to school as a special education major, and after graduation her options are endless.

"I probably won't ever stop running," she said. "I might go to grad school or maybe even travel or teach in another country."