Juliette Whittaker Named Gatorade's National POY

The moment was seven days in the making. 

Just a week ago, Whittaker's mother told her on July 6 she needed to go to Mount De Sales Academy to attend a prep rally. That was fair enough. Whittaker had recently earned a spot on the U.S. team traveling to Colombia in August for the World U20 Championships.

She didn't think much of it. 

Then she arrived at her school and quickly noticed that her close friends and family were there.

All of a sudden, said recalled on Wednesday over the phone, she turned to her right and saw her loved ones with the Gatorade trophy. 

Immediately, reality sat in.

After earning Maryland's Player Of The Year honor for the last two years, Whittaker capped her high school career as the National POY. 

"[If making the US World U20 team] was the cherry on top, [earning Gatorade Player Of The Year] is the sprinkles," Whittaker said after winning this prestigious award. 

"It means a lot to be recognized as a whole person with all aspects of my life," Whittaker said. "This award recognizes my athletic achievements, and also in the classroom and within the community. Most awards are just recognizing my athletic achievements, times I run, or the records I've broken but for this award to recognize my whole identity and me as a whole, a well-balanced person.

"It means a lot."

Throughout the year, Whittaker maintained 4.46 GPA while also serving as the Class president and volunteering at a local soup kitchen and being a peer tutor. 

"I stress the importance of being a well-rounded person," Whittaker said. "Running is a huge part of my life but it's not my whole life. But to remember that and put effort into all the other aspects of my life has been a goal of mine. For this award to recognize that it means a lot and makes all the sacrifices worth it."

Photo Credit: Gatorade

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* Juliette Whittaker finished second at the Olympic Development 800m at Penn Relays

* Juliette Whittaker won the high school girls mile at Penn Relays