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CHICAGO (January 15, 2015) -- In its 30th year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Adam Barnard of Daniel Boone High School as its 2014-15 Gatorade Tennessee Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year. Barnard is the first Gatorade Tennessee Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year to be chosen from Daniel Boone 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 racecourse, distinguishes Barnard as Tennessee's best high school boys cross country runner. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year award to be announced in January, Barnard joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Ryan Hall (1999-00, 2000-01, Big Bear HS, Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991- 92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Kevin Garnett (1992-93, Maudlin HS, S.C.), Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.) and Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.).
The 5-foot-10, 130-pound senior raced to fifth place at the Nike Cross Nationals Final this past season, crossing the line in 15:25, earning All-American honors. That performance came on the heels of his win at the NXN Southeast Regional championships in 14:44. A three-time First Team All-State selection, Barnard won the Division I AAA individual state championship in 15:43.4, leading the Trailblazers to a state title as a team.
Barnard has maintained a 3.87 GPA in the classroom. A member of the Key Club and the Beta Club, he was elected president of his senior class and he has volunteered locally on behalf of a nursing home and his church youth group.
"If I could use one word to describe Adam Barnard, it would be relentless," said Lance Winders, head coach at Henry County High. "He is not afraid to push it past the red line. There are some other really good runners in our state, but I don't believe any of them compare to him. He is also a class act and well-respected by other runners and coaches alike."
Barnard has signed a National Letter of Intent to run on an athletic scholarship at Georgetown University beginning this fall.
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.
Barnard joins Gatorade Tennessee Boys Cross Country Runners of the Year Aaron Templeton (2013-14 & 2012-13, Hardin Valley Academy), Daniel Peters (2011-12, Montgomery Bell Academy), Michael Peters (2010-11, Montgomery Bell Academy), Brandon Lord (2009-10, Baylor School), Bill Matthews (2008-09, Baylor School), and Sean Keveren (2007-08, Brentwood) as athletes who have won the cross country award since its inception in 2007.
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.
