American Fork (UT) senior and Brigham Young University commit Casey Clinger was named Thursday as the Gatorade National Cross Country Runner of the Year for 2016-2017.
The 5-foot-11, 145-pound senior scored his second straight national title at Nike Cross Nationals (NXN), winning in a time of 15:28.4 at the Glendoveer Course in Portland, Oregon, on Dec. 3.
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Read: American Fork Senior Casey Clinger Chooses BYU Over Oregon
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Utah's returning Gatorade Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, Clinger also took home a Class 5A championship in a 3-mile course record of 14:42.9 and led American Fork to a state title.
He finished his prep cross country career with 15 straight wins at 3 miles and at the 5K dating back to 2015.
Read: With Decision Day Out of the Way, American Fork Senior Casey Clinger Pushes Forward
The Gatorade Player of the Year 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 and field.
Gatorade awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. In addition to athletic excellence, the award recognizes academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field.
For 32 years, Gatorade has honored more than 15,000 State Players of the Year and 290 National Players of the Year.
So how did Clinger find out he was named National Boys XC Runner of the Year?
How else...a police officer pulled him over and gave him his trophy.
Here's the video:
