Alyssa McBride of Bryan Named Ohio Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Adam Woullard (312-729-3627)

BRYAN HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUT NAMED GATORADE OHIO GIRLS TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

CHICAGO (June 20, 2012) — In its 27th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPNHS, today announced Alyssa McBride of Bryan High School as its 2011-12 Gatorade Ohio Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. McBride is the first Gatorade Ohio Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Bryan 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 McBride as Ohio’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, McBride 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-8 senior cleared a state-record 13 feet, one inch in the pole vault to capture the Division 2 state championship this spring, which ranked as the nation’s No. 10 clearance among prep competitors in 2012 at the time of her selection. McBride is a four-time District champion and also won the pole vault at the New Balance Indoor Nationals.

McBride has maintained a 3.77 GPA in the classroom. Also a talented musician, she has volunteered locally on behalf of her church youth group and the local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
“Alyssa is an amazing athlete with an incredible work ethic and focus,” said Bryan High coach Melanie Reinhart. “The best thing about her is her humble nature. She doesn’t like the spotlight on her, but she deserves every ounce of recognition she receives.”

McBride has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in track and field on scholarship at the University of Cincinnati 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 ESPNHS and the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, 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.
McBride joins recent Gatorade Ohio Girls Track & Field Athletes of the Year Kaila Barber (2009-10 & 2010-11, Midpark High School), and Stephanie Morgan (2007-08 & 2008-09, Barnesville) 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 playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.

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