FSU's Friday named Gatorade National Track Athlete of the Year
"Trentavis Friday thought he was showing up for a regular practice on Monday afternoon.
But it didn't take long for the incoming Florida State track recruit to realize something much different was going on.
The North Carolina native, who posted the fastest 100-meter and 200-meter times in the country this season as a high school senior, was surprised at the FSU track facility when Gatorade representatives presented him with the Gatorade National Track and Field Athlete of the Year award.
"I knew I was one of the final candidates, but I had no idea I was winning it today," Friday said. "I talked to my mom on the phone two nights ago. And she just said her and my dad were coming here to visit. And then the next thing I know I come in the door and all of these people are here and the cameras — I'm not used to that.
"So I'm still wrapping my mind around it."
Despite its storied history of accomplished sprinters, Friday became the first Seminole to win the national honor.
"He's really special," FSU head track coach Bob Braman said. "I'm still blown away that this is the national athlete of the year and we've got him. Walter Dix didn't win that, Ricardo Chambers didn't win that, Rhodes Scholar Garrett Johnson didn't win that.
"... It's an incredible list. And we have a really rich sprint tradition, certainly in the last decade. And he's at the top of that as the only guy to win the national (award)."
Not only did Friday learn he had been named the best track performer in the United States, but he also learned during the press conference that he would be traveling out to Los Angeles in the middle of July to attend the ESPYs. At a ceremony before the annual awards show, Gatorade will announce its overall male and female athletes of the year — previous winners include Peyton Manning, LeBron James and Andrew Wiggins.
As for Friday, even a half hour after the ceremony on Monday he still couldn't quite believe it.
"First thing I think of is I don't deserve to be with these athletes," Friday said as he looked over his shoulder a picture of Manning. "I think it's a big honor to be on the same list as those guys."
The superstar prep sprinter had the fastest 100-meter (10.17 seconds) and 200-meter (20.33) times in the nation this season. He was also the national champion in the indoor 60. Fellow FSU recruit Kendall Williams, of Jacksonville, was second in the 200 (20.55) and fifth in the 100 (10.28) and was the Gatorade track athlete of the year for Florida. While incoming freshman shot-putter Benjamin Bonhurst won the honor in his home state of New York.
"Not a bad recruiting class," Braman said with a smile."
Corey Clark/TDO.com
Friday had fastest 100 (10.17) and 200 (20.33) in U.S. Fellow FSU recruit Kendall Williams 2nd in 200 (20.55), 5th in 100 (10.28).
Corey Clark/TDO.com
Friday is the first FSU recruit to win the honor - which is saying something considering amount of talent rolling through that program.
Retweeted by Warchant.com
Brandon Hon
Breaking News: FSU freshman @SheWantsFlacko wins Gatorade National Athlete of the Year! #tracknation #noles pic.twitter.com/Hobvwk7Byh
No comments:
Post a Comment