Thorvaldson Wins Second Gatorade Wyoming Girls Track Honor

Rawlins junior Sydney Thorvaldson has been announced as the 2019-20 Gatorade Wyoming Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year on Thursday.

Thorvaldson repeats as the winner of this award and combined with her three cross country honors is now the most decorated Gatorade award-winner in state history with five.

Thorvaldson set state records on her way to winning her three events at the 2020 Wyoming State Indoor Track Championships back in March. She captured the 800, 1600, and 3200 meters in Gillette. She won the 3200 meters at the Simplot Games in Idaho this past February with a record time of 10:06.58. That ranks as the nation’s eighth-fastest time in prep history.

Thorvaldson owns nine state records and is a 15-time state champion.

According to the release from The Gatorade Company, Thorvaldson maintains a 4.0 GPA in school. She is a member of the Rawlins High School student council. Thorvaldson has volunteered for community beautification projects and as a teacher’s aide at her church.

Cody High School Head Coach Bret Engdahl had high praise for Thorvaldson in the Gatorade release, saying,

“Sydney is a great competitor who runs so well by herself since she has no competition in Wyoming. She is something to watch.”

This award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field. It distinguishes Thorvaldson as Wyoming’s best high school girls’ track & field athlete. She is now a finalist for the national honor, which will be announced later this month.

As a two-time winner, Thorvaldson joins recent Gatorade Wyoming Girls Track & Field Athletes of the Year Aubrey Frentheway (2017-18) from Cheyenne Central High School, Jackson’s Anna Gibson (2016-17), and Lauren Taubert (2015-16) of Natrona County High School, among the state’s list of former award winners.

To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit www.playeroftheyear.gatorade.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GatoradePOY or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Gatorade.

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