KW’s Davis Repeats As Wyoming Gatorade Girls Track and Field Athlete Of The Year

In its 28th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, announced Jerayah Davis of Kelly Walsh High School as its 2012-13 Gatorade Wyoming Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

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 Davis as Wyoming’s best high school girls track & field athlete. 

Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year award to be announced in June, Davis joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Allyson Felix (2001-02, Los Angeles Baptist, Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.), Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.), Lolo Jones (1997-98, Roosevelt HS, Ia.) and Bianca Knight (2006-07, Ridgeland HS, Miss.).

The 5-foot-9 junior sprinter/jumper won three individual state championships this spring and led the Trojans to second place at the Class AA state meet. Davis won the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.12 seconds, the 200-meter dash in 23.79 and 400-meter dash in 55.73.

The 2011-12 Gatorade Wyoming Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year, she also earned second place in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 3.5 inches.

Her 100-meter clocking at the state meet is ranked as the nation’s No. 16 time by a prep competitor at the time of her selection.

Davis has maintained a 3.96 GPA in the classroom.

A devoted member of her church community, she has volunteered locally as a youth track and field coach and a mentor for students with special needs.

“Jerayah Davis’ performances put her in the top echelon of runners in the country,” said Sheridan High head coach Art Baures. “She is also fortunate to be part of a program that does more than teach kids how to be fast. She is top notch as an athlete and as a person.”

Davis will begin her 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.

Davis joins Gatorade Wyoming Girls Track & Field Athletes of the Year Paula Andrie (2010–11, Campbell County HS), Baillie Gibson (2009-10, Natrona County), Emily Moore (2008–09 & 2007-08 Campbell County), and Amber Henry (2006-2007, Mountain View) among the state’s list of former award winners.