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Newbury Park’s Nico Young was surprised with the Gatorade National boys cross country Runner of the Year award Thursday morning at Newbury Park High School.
Young is a two-time defending state champion and this year’s national champion.
“I’ve seen videos of other athletes getting this award and it’s something I’ve always strived for,” Young said. “It means a lot to me.”
This past cross country season, Young set a national 3-mile record at the Woodbridge Invitational of 13 minutes, 39.7 seconds. He won his closest race at the Clovis Invitational, running 14:28.9 at Woodward Park to win and defeat Leo Daschbach of Gilbert (Ariz.) Highland by two seconds.
He also broke the Riverside City Course record by 30 seconds at the CIF Southern Section finals in 13:54.1. He ran Woodward Park again at the CIF State meet on Nov. 30, clocking a time of 14:28.5
On the biggest stage at the Nike Cross Nationals, in the sloppy, muddy mess at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, Young left no doubt, running a time of 14:52.3 and winning by 14 seconds. He and his Newbury Park teammates were then awarded a national championship in a razor-close, four-point victory over Great Oak.
Just before Christmas, Young signed his National Letter of Intent to go to Northern Arizona, a perennial Division I power which was the national runner-up this season.
Landon Negri contributed to this story.
