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Falk, Frias Tabbed Gatorade State Cross Country Players of the Year
1/31/2022 2:35:00 PM | Cross Country, Track & Field
DURHAM – Duke track & field and cross country incoming freshmen Nick Falk and Dalia Frias have been named the Gatorade Men's and Women's Cross Country Players of the Year for Illinois and California, respectively, the organization announced Monday morning.
Falk raced to a 19th-place finish at the national Eastbay Cross Country Championships this past season and clocked a time of 15:39.9. The Glencoe, Ill., native took second at the Class 3A state championships and finished fourth at the Eastbay Midwest Regional Championships. Falk also took first at the Peoria Invitational, the Regional championships and the Central Suburban League championships. For the full release on Falk, click HERE.
Frias collected the CIF-State Division II individual state championship during the fall after finishing in 16:52 and led Mira Costa High School to the state title as a team. Frias broke the tape at the Woodbridge Classic, the Mt. SAC Invitational and the Southern Section Championships. The Hermosa Beach, Calif., native placed fifth at the national Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championships en route to earning All-American honors in the process. For the full release on Frias, click HERE.
Both individuals are finalists for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys and Girls Cross Country Player of the Year awards to be announced in February.
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 Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.
Since the program's inception in 1985, Gatorade Player of the Year award recipients have won hundreds of professional and college championships, and many have also turned into pillars in their communities, becoming coaches, business owners and educators.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils cross country and track & field, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeTFXC."
#GoDuke
Falk raced to a 19th-place finish at the national Eastbay Cross Country Championships this past season and clocked a time of 15:39.9. The Glencoe, Ill., native took second at the Class 3A state championships and finished fourth at the Eastbay Midwest Regional Championships. Falk also took first at the Peoria Invitational, the Regional championships and the Central Suburban League championships. For the full release on Falk, click HERE.
Frias collected the CIF-State Division II individual state championship during the fall after finishing in 16:52 and led Mira Costa High School to the state title as a team. Frias broke the tape at the Woodbridge Classic, the Mt. SAC Invitational and the Southern Section Championships. The Hermosa Beach, Calif., native placed fifth at the national Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championships en route to earning All-American honors in the process. For the full release on Frias, click HERE.
Both individuals are finalists for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys and Girls Cross Country Player of the Year awards to be announced in February.
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 Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.
Since the program's inception in 1985, Gatorade Player of the Year award recipients have won hundreds of professional and college championships, and many have also turned into pillars in their communities, becoming coaches, business owners and educators.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils cross country and track & field, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeTFXC."
#GoDuke
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