Kevin McClanahan ran to the triple crown of sprinting at this year's 4A state meet. Colorado Track XC file photo.
CHICAGO (June 20, 2014) — In its 29th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Kevin McClanahan of Erie High School as its 2013-14 Gatorade Colorado Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year. McClanahan is the first Gatorade Colorado Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Erie High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the track, distinguishes McClanahan as Colorado’s best high school boys track & field athlete. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Track & Field
Athlete of the Year award to be announced in June, McClanahan joins an elite alumni association of state awardwinners in 12 sports, including Ryan Hall (1999-01, Big Bear HS, Calif.), Meb Keflezighi (1993-94, San Diego HS, Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Mark
Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.) and Lolo Jones (1997-98, Roosevelt HS, Ia.).
The 5-foot-9, 135 pound senior sprinter won three individual state championships at the Class 4A state meet this season, leading the Tigers to fourth place as a team. The Class 4A Athlete of the Year as named by The Denver Post, McClanahan won the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.67 seconds, the 200 in 21.33 and the 400 in a meet-record 46.78. His 400 clocking at the state meet ranked as the nation’s No. 7 performance among prep competitors in 2014 at the time of his selection.
McClanahan has maintained a 3.00 weighted GPA in the classroom. He has volunteered on behalf of his church, Operation Christmas Child, and as part of highway cleanup efforts.
“He’s a classy kid, great performer and is planning on competing in track at the next level,” said Thad Lear, head coach of rival Frederick High. “He has always been a fierce competitor.
In a day and age where humility in sports is on the decline, he always presented himself and represented Erie with nothing but class.” McClanahan remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
McClanahan joins recent Gatorade Colorado Boys Track & Field Athletes of the Year Connor Turnage (2012-13, Highlands Ranch High School), Raymond Bozmans (2011-12, Fort Collins High School), Connor Winter (2010–11, Arapahoe High School), Trevor Brown (2009-10, Wasson), Mason Finley (2008–09 & 2007-08, Buena Vista), and Jeremy Rankin (2006-2007, Overland) among the state’s list of former award winners.
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.
