CHANDLER HIGH SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUT NAMED
GATORADE ARIZONA GIRLS TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
CHICAGO (June 19, 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 Ky Westbrook of Chandler High School as its 2013-14
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 senior won four individual Division I state championships this past season, leading the Wolves to a ninth consecutive
team title. The state’s returning Gatorade Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year, Westbrook won the 100-meter dash with a time of
11.69 seconds, the 200 in 24.33 seconds and the 100-meter hurdles in 14.17 seconds. Also the two-time Girls Track Athlete of the Year
as named by The Arizona Republic, Westbrook also captured gold in the shot put with a throw of 45 feet, 7.75 inches. Her third-place
100-meter dash time of 11.51 at the adidas Grand Prix ranked as the nation’s No. 8 performance among prep competitors in 2014 at
the time of her selection.
Westbrook has maintained a 4.16 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.
“Not only is she a super-talented athlete, she is also a quality person,” said Mike Carlin, head coach of rival Basha High. “She is just a
tremendous athlete that is extremely versatile. Not only is she a great sprinter, she hurdles and throws shot as well.”
Westbrook has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in track and field on scholarship at the University of Southern California
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.
Two-time winner Westbrook joins 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 & 2008–09, Chandler), 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.
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