WINFIELD CITY HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUT
NAMED
GATORADE ALABAMA BOYS TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
(June 24, 2016) - In its 31st year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade
Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Trey Cunningham of Winfield
City High School as its 2015-16 Gatorade Alabama Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Cunningham is the first
Gatorade Alabama Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Winfield City High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic
achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the track, distinguishes Cunningham as Alabama's
best high school boys track & field athlete. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Track & Field
Athlete of the Year award to be announced in June, Cunningham joins an elite alumni association of state award winners
in 12 sports, including Ryan Hall (1999-01, Big Bear HS, Calif.), Meb Keflezighi (1993-94, San Diego HS,
Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Mark
Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.) and Lolo Jones (1997-98, Roosevelt HS, Ia.).
The 6-foot-1, 165-pound junior won four individual state titles at the Class 3A state meet this past season, leading the
Pirates to the state championship as a team. Cunningham won the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 13.50
seconds, the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in 38.34, the 200-meter dash in 21.82 and also captured the long jump
with a leap of 22 feet, 8 inches. His season-best time of 13.42 in the 110 hurdles ranked as the nation's No. 2
performance among prep competitors in 2016 at the time of his selection. Cunningham also finished second in the 110
hurdles at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor.
Cunningham has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. A devoted member of his church community, he has
volunteered locally on behalf of the Special Olympics and food donation drives.
"I've coached him for five years and it was evident very early on that he possessed a remarkable gift," said Winfield City
coach Steve Reaves. "He's worked hard to hone his talent and he strives continually to beat his own records."
Cunningham will begin his senior year of high school this fall.
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 high school sports leadership team in partnership with
USA TODAY High School Sports, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of
accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
Cunningham joins recent Gatorade Alabama Boys Track & Field Athletes of the Year Sean Collins (2014-15, McGillToolen
Catholic High School), Jaalen Jones (2013-14, Thompson High School), Grant Hill (2012-13, Huntsville High
School), Joseph Williams (2011-12 & 2010-11, Spain Park High School), Keenan Brock (2009-10, Carver High School),
Patrick McGregor (2008-09, Hoover High School), Kyle Smith (2007-08, Daphne High School), and Spencer McCorkel
(2006-07, Bryant High School) among the state's list of former award winners.
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us
on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of
past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.
