KYtrackXC.com is pleased to present the 4^th Annual Indoor Athletes of the Year Awards.  While in the past the awards have been given to only the high school athletes in Kentucky, this year the awards are extended to middle school and college participants (any former Kentucky high school athlete is eligible.)

Congratulations to the winners and to all the current Kentucky middle school, high school, and college athletes who competed during the 2009 Indoor Season.

High School Girls Sprinter of the Year

Tiffany Rogers - Butler

Rogers, a senior at Butler, was the 2007 KYtrackXC.com Indoor Sprinter of the Year.  As in years past, she continued her record breaking streak at the Wildcat Classic on January 24^th as she broke her own 60m Dash record with a best time of 7.72 seconds.  Later on that day she broke the 200m Dash Meet Record with a time of 25.71.  She was ranked 13^th nationally in the 60m Dash after the Wildcat Classic.  At the Mason-Dixon Games on March 7^th she won the Class AAA 55m Dash race with a 7.20.  Tiffany and her Bearette teammates are one of the team favorites for the 2009 Class AAA Kentucky State Track title.

2009 Best Times/Distances

55m Dash – 7.20

60m Dash – 7.72

200m Dash – 25.71

High School Girls Distance Runner of the Year

Emma Brink - Sacred Heart Academy

Brink, a sophomore at Sacred Heart Academy, was already considered one of the best runners in Kentucky after winning the last two Class AAA Kentucky State Cross Country Titles, along the way breaking the Kentucky State Cross Country Record her freshmen year.  In the 2009 Indoor Season Brink elevated herself onto the national level when she won the One Mile Run at the UK High School Invitational with a time of 4:55.75.  She finished 5^th at Nike Indoor Nationals in the One Mile Run with a new personal best of 4:55.12 earning All-American Honors. 

2009 Best Times/Distances

800m Run – 2:20.64

One Mile Run – 4:55.12

High School Girls Field Event Athlete of the Year

Samantha Smith - Rockcastle County

Smith, a junior at Rockcastle County, continues the Rockcastle County tradition of winning the KYtrackXC.com Indoor Field Event Athlete of the Year Award.  Former Rockcastle County jumper Morgan Thacker won the Award in 2006, 2007, and 2008.  With Thacker’s graduation opening the way, Smith leapt into the award stand.  Smith had quite a winter competing in the six meets which helped her lead the state of Kentucky in the Long Jump and Triple Jump.  Both of her 2009 best were done at the UK High School Invitational with jumps of 17-00 (Long Jump) and 35-01.50 (Triple Jump.)  She finished 5^th in both events at UK against some of the best competition in the nation. 

2009 Best Times/Distances

55m Dash – 7.59

60m Dash – 8.18

Long Jump – 17-00.00

Triple Jump – 35-01.50

High School Boys Sprinter of the Year

Ben Mason - Lafayette

Mason, a senior at Lafayette, broke onto the scene this Indoor Season at the Wildcat Classic on January 24^th with victories in the 200m and 400m Dash.  His time of 22.03 broke the Wildcat Classic Meet Record.  He ran a personal best time of 49.98 in winning the 400m Dash.  At the UK High School Invitational on February 21^st he toed the line with the best runners in the nation finishing 4^th with a best time of 21.90.  This time currently ranks him 11^th nationally.  This winter Mason has established himself as threat to win any of the sprint events at the 2009 Kentucky State Track Meet.   

2009 Best Times/Distances

200m Dash – 21.90

400m Dash – 49.98

High School Boys Distance Runner of the Year

Joe Mallek - Oldham County

During the 2009 Indoor Season, whenever Joe Mallek stepped on the track he brought his best.  He opened up his senior track season with a victory in the 800m Run at the Wildcat Classic on January 24^th running a 1:56.56.  One month later he ran in the UK High School Invitational, one of the top indoor meets in the nation, and crossed the line first in the 800m.  He ran a 1:54 point something but was disqualified, though he was following another runner.  No matter what the final results said, he ran one heck of a race.  (Video of the race.)  On March 7^th at the Mason-Dixon Games he broke the Class AAA record with his victory in the 800m Run going 1:58.32.  He was named the KYtrackXC.com March 9^th High School Boy Athlete of the Week.  Joe has signed to compete for Bellarmine University next year. 

2009 Best Times/Distances

800m Run – 1:56.56

High School Boys Field Event Athlete of the Year

Cameron Frazier - Daviess County

Frazier, a senior at Daviess County, won the 2008 Class AAA Kentucky State Shot Put title with a personal best toss (at that time) of 54-11.50.  Where would one expect him to start the 2009 season?  If you answered anywhere under 54-11.50 you would be wrong.  At his first meet on February 7^th at Henderson County he threw 55-00 to win.  Two days later at Daviess County he threw a new personal best 57-02.75.  After the meet he threw a legit 59-11.  He went on to win the Class AAA Mason-Dixon Games Shot Put competition with a throw of 52-11.50 his only time under 55-00 this winter.   

2009 Best Times/Distances

Shot Put – 57-02.75