CHANDLER HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUT NAMED
GATORADE ARIZONA GIRLS TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
CHICAGO (June 19, 2013) — In its 28th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in
collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Ky Westbrook of Chandler High School as its 2012-13
Gatorade Arizona Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Westbrook is the third Gatorade Arizona Girls Track & Field Athlete of the
Year to be chosen from Chandler 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 Westbrook as Arizona’s best high school girls track & field
athlete. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year award to be announced in June,
Westbrook joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Allyson Felix (2001-02, Los Angeles
Baptist, Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Abby Wambach
(1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.), Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.), Lolo Jones (1997-98, Roosevelt HS, Ia.) and
Bianca Knight (2006-07, Ridgeland HS, Miss.).
The 5-foot-9 junior won three individual championships at the Division I state meet this season, leading the Wolves to an eighth
consecutive team title. Also the Girls Track Athlete of the Year as named by The Arizona Republic, Westbrook broke the tape in the
200-meter dash with a state-record time of 23.39 seconds in addition to winning the 100-meter dash in 11.45 and the shot put with a
throw of 45 feet, 2.25 inches. Her 100- and 200-meter dash times at the state meet as well as her state-record shot put effort of 47-9 at
the Chandler City Meet all ranked in the top 15 among U.S. prep competitors in 2013 at the time of her selection.
Westbrook has maintained a 4.33 weighted GPA in the classroom. In addition to donating her time as a youth track instructor, she has
volunteered locally on behalf of the Special Olympics, the Mesa Family YMCA and in association with the National Honor Society.
“She’s an extremely talented athlete,” said Mike Carlin, head coach of rival Basha High. “She’s fast, strong and versatile, winning the
200-meter dash in a state-record time and also setting the state record in the shot put. It’s very hard to compete with that.”
Westbrook will begin her senior year of high school 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.
Westbrook joins recent Gatorade Arizona Girls Track & Field Athletes of the Year Jaide Stepter (2011-12, Canyon del Oro High School),
Hannah Carson (2010–11, Chandler High School), Jasmine Todd (2009-10, Chandler), Jessica Tonn (2008–09, Xavier College Prep.),
Hannah Carson (2007-08, Dobson), and Natalie Johnson (2006-2007, Xavier College Prep) 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.
