Gatorade POY Press Release; Editing, Photo & Graphics by Ron Knapp, MySportsResults
CHICAGO (January 22, 2024) — In its 39th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Katherine Bohlke of Newington High School is the 2023-24 Gatorade Connecticut Girls Cross Country Player of the Year. Bohlke is the first Gatorade Connecticut Girls Cross Country Player of the Year to be chosen from Newington High School.
The award, which celebrates the nation’s top high school athletes for excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community, distinguishes Bohlke as Connecticut’s best high school girls cross country player. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport, touting an all-star group of alumni that includes Irene Riggs (2022-23, 2021-22 & 2020-21, Morgantown High School, Morgantown, W. Va.), Katelyn Tuohy (2019-20, 2018-19 & 2017-18, North Rockland High School, Thiels, N.Y.) and Jordan Hasay (2008-09, Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School, San Luis Obispo, Calif.)
The 5-foot-10 senior broke the tape at the State Open Meet in 18:16.0 this past season to complete a sweep of the in-state postseason races. Bohlke raised her game at the next level, clocking a 17:50.0 to take sixth at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional. She followed that with a top 25 finish at the national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships, narrowly missing All-American honors.
An active volunteer for the Appalachia Service Project, Bohlke has donated her time repairing homes in Charleston and in Clay County. She also is a member of her school’s marching band and wind ensemble in addition to playing the clarinet in the Pit Orchestra. “Already the best distance runner in school history, Katie applied the finishing touches on her decorated career by sweeping both the Class L and State Open Meet titles and landing a fourth consecutive All-State selection,” said Rich Gonzalez of PrepCalTrack. “She saved her best for last, repping the Constitution State in grand fashion by earning 21st place at the Foot Locker nationals meet.”
Bohlke has maintained a 4.17 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a national letter of intent to run on scholarship at Virginia Tech 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…
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