Projo Sports Blog

The Gatorade Company, in partnership with ESPN RISE, has selected Andrew Springer of Westerly High School as its 2008-09 Gatorade Rhode Island Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year. The 5-foot-9 senior won the mile run at the Midwest Distance Gala on June 13 at Lisle, Ill. with a time of 4:02.70.

Springer also ranked No. 1 in the nation in the 3000-meter run with a time of 8:23.30, clocked at the Bishop Hendricken Invitational in May, in addition to posting the No. 4 ranking in the nation in the 1500-meter run in 3:54.02 and the No. 11 ranking in the nation in the 2-mile at 9:02.93 at the Nike Outdoor Nationals. Springer won the 800-meter run, the 1500, the 3000 and ran the second leg of the 4x800-meter relay at this year's All-State meet, leading the Bulldogs to the state title as a team. Springer finished his career with 11 state titles and 12 state records.

Springer has maintained a 3.85 GPA in the classroom. A member of the National Honor Society, he has volunteered locally at road races through the Westerly Track & Athletic Club and has served as an official at youth track meets.

"I've never seen a performance like Andrew had at the state meet," said Westerly High Coach Ryan Palmer. "We were going after the first state title in school history, and he knew what he had to do to help us win a state championship. He ran 6100 meters in one meet and never complained. It was pretty special to watch."

Springer has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete on an athletic scholarship at Georgetown University beginning this fall.

--GATORADE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

 Tags  Andrew Springer high school track and field Westerly High School

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