Nebraska distance standout honored by Gatorade
The reigning Gatorade Nebraska Boys Track and Field Player of the Year put on a show at the state championships earlier this year.
Fremont High School senior Juan Gonzalez swept the distance events, winning the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 in Division A. He has now been honored by Gatorade as the top boy track and field athlete.
Along with his success at the state meet, Gonzalez captured the two-mile run at the Brooks PR Invitational with a state-record time of 8:47.06, which placed him first nationally among spring competitors.
He is also a two-time winner of the Gatorade Cross Country Player of the Year award, having broke the state record in the 1,600 at May's Heartland Athletic Conference Championship.
Gonzalez picked up All-American honors by finishing fifth in the mile at the Nike Outdoor Nationals.
"Juan is an unbelievably special athlete," said Kyle McMahon, head coach of Papillion-LaVista South High School. "You knew he was going to dominate every race he was in and there wasn't much you could do about it.
"He is the best distance runner our state has ever seen."
Gonzalez will head off to the University of Oregon to continue his running career in the fall.
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