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In its 25th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade
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| Justin Welch |
Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, today announced Justin Welch of Eastwood High School as its 2009-10 Gatorade Ohio Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Welch is the first Gatorade Ohio Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Eastwood 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 Welch as Ohio’s best high school boys’ track and field athlete.
Now a finalist for the Gatorade National Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year award, Welch joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Ryan Hall (1999-01, Big Bear High School, Calif.), Meb Keflezighi (1993-94, San Diego, Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central, Ill.), Kevin Garnett (1992-93, Maudlin, S.C.), Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo, Calif.) and Lolo Jones (1997-98, Roosevelt, Ia.).
Welch, a 6-foot-2 senior, swept the shot put and discus at the Division II state meet this past season, launching the discus 197 feet, 1 inch and hurling the shot 62 feet, 11.75 inches. A seven-time state champion, Welch’s season-best discus throw of 202 feet ranked fifth in the nation at the time of his selection. He also had the nation’s top hammer throw of 245 feet, 4 inches, the fourth-best high school distance of all-time.
Welch has maintained an unweighted 3.08 GPA in the classroom. An active member of his Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter, he has volunteered locally on behalf of youth soccer and track programs.
“Justin is small compared to most throwers, but he’s very quick in the throwing ring and generates a ton of power,” said Eastwood Coach Gary White. “He has a great work ethic and he really performs under pressure.”
Welch has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete on an athletic scholarship at the University of Georgia this fall.
In addition Justin finished second in the hammer throw at the Junior Nationals. Eastwood graduate Jimmy O’Brien, who went on to be a top caliber Division III long distance runner at Ohio Northern University, also participated in the National Championships in the senior division.
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