Picking Simmons for POY just doesn’t align at all with the girls’ pick for Ritzenhein (who I think is very deserving of POY, by the way). However, one would argue that Leachman and Simmons both had extremely dominant seasons that were certainly comparable to one another, yet Leachman did not receive the POY like Simmons. They both set multiple course records, won nearly every race they competed in, but they also both had off races at NXN, finishing 13th and 15th. This is very confusing, especially considering Leachman bounced back and won Footlocker, which Simmons did not do. If Gatorade is giving the award to Simmons, they should be giving it to Leachman because those two were very similarly dominant across the board this fall. The pick for Simmons doesn’t make any sense based on the girls’ pick. (Again, not taking away from Ritzenhein. She is very deserving and had an amazing season).
Ritzenhein dominated every race except for NXRSW. Leachman's bad race (15th at NXN, behind 5 girls from NXRSW) was much worse than Ritzenhein's worst race (3rd at NXRSW within 3 seconds of 1st). Ritzenhein also set multiple course records throughout the season. I don't understand how anyone could argue that Leachman had a better season.
Elizabeth Leachman clearly had a better season than Addy Ritzenhein.
Leachman had nine! races with a speed rating of 156 or higher. Ritzenhein had only one, NXN.
Leachman ran nine! 5k races under 17 minutes. Ritzenhein only ran two 5k races under 17 minutes.
Leachman won both NXR and Foot Locker regional races by big margins. Ritzenhein didn't win either one.
Leachman won a national championship race by 14 seconds. Ritzenhein won a national championship race by 6 seconds.
Elizabeth Leachman was easily the best girls cross country runner in 2023.
Ritzenhein dominated every race except for NXRSW. Leachman's bad race (15th at NXN, behind 5 girls from NXRSW) was much worse than Ritzenhein's worst race (3rd at NXRSW within 3 seconds of 1st). Ritzenhein also set multiple course records throughout the season. I don't understand how anyone could argue that Leachman had a better season.
Pretty easily, in every race except nxn Leachman was comparably 30 seconds faster than Ritzenhein.
Problem is, despite the language here, the Gatorade award has always been only about athletic performance. (Across all sports) Only the past 2 years, when the winners of the national race were not clear cut best runners, has it gone elsewhere.
That' not true. I don't remember when exactly, but a number of years ago Gatorade starting a more extensive application process, where those other factors came in play. At one time it was just trying to pick the top runner in each state and then the top runner nationally, but that was a while back.
Ritzenhein dominated every race except for NXRSW. Leachman's bad race (15th at NXN, behind 5 girls from NXRSW) was much worse than Ritzenhein's worst race (3rd at NXRSW within 3 seconds of 1st). Ritzenhein also set multiple course records throughout the season. I don't understand how anyone could argue that Leachman had a better season.
Pretty easily, in every race except nxn Leachman was comparably 30 seconds faster than Ritzenhein.
I'm not arguing who should have won, but you're comparing one athlete who raced at sea level and one that raced at altitude.
Problem is, despite the language here, the Gatorade award has always been only about athletic performance. (Across all sports) Only the past 2 years, when the winners of the national race were not clear cut best runners, has it gone elsewhere.
That' not true. I don't remember when exactly, but a number of years ago Gatorade starting a more extensive application process, where those other factors came in play. At one time it was just trying to pick the top runner in each state and then the top runner nationally, but that was a while back.
That’s everyone’s point Drew Griffith was off the charts in 2 of the 3 categories compared to simmons but picked simmons.
Thankfully, there is a prestigious award and experience given to not just the best athlete. there are plenty of existing awards for that.
Gatorade POY is about athletics, academics, community service. Sometimes the very best athlete doesn’t meet the additional standards of Gatorade.
Perfectly fine with that. Thank you Gatorade.
Problem is, despite the language here, the Gatorade award has always been only about athletic performance. (Across all sports) Only the past 2 years, when the winners of the national race were not clear cut best runners, has it gone elsewhere.
If they were consistent, Addie Ritzenhein would not have won either. They would have claimed that Leachman and Forsyth were the best runners all year, but just had bad days at NXN.
Not true.
did you here what Grant Fisher had to say about his past experiences winning Gatorade POY on Runnerspace?
Have a listen. It was the same then as it is now. Three pillars of success.
I don’t think Leachman had a better season. Ritzenhein was outstanding this year and so was Leachman. I just think that if they picked Simmons for POY, they should be using the same logic for the girls award and pick Leachman. As I said, I’m not taking away from Ritzenhein…she had some extremely impressive performances and very much deserved the award.
did you here what Grant Fisher had to say about his past experiences winning Gatorade POY on Runnerspace?
Have a listen. It was the same then as it is now. Three pillars of success.
Thank you Gatorade.
Famous Gatorade winners Peyton Manning, Emmit Smith, Kobe Bryant, Azzi Fudd, Page Bueckers and LeBron James of course were all chosen because of academics and community service.
Grant is a stand up guy, very smart, probably had some good ex C's. He was chosen though because he won foot locker.
did you here what Grant Fisher had to say about his past experiences winning Gatorade POY on Runnerspace?
Have a listen. It was the same then as it is now. Three pillars of success.
Thank you Gatorade.
Famous Gatorade winners Peyton Manning, Emmit Smith, Kobe Bryant, Azzi Fudd, Page Bueckers and LeBron James of course were all chosen because of academics and community service.
Grant is a stand up guy, very smart, probably had some good ex C's. He was chosen though because he won foot locker.
Valid point Rich Gonzalez punted this in the stands and the award lost credibility this year…. the (3) pillars don’t matter and never should when it’s a player of the year. Two of our most famous HS runners won the award and one couldn’t pass high school and the other couldn’t speak english. Why? Because they were the best runners.
I don’t think Leachman had a better season. Ritzenhein was outstanding this year and so was Leachman. I just think that if they picked Simmons for POY, they should be using the same logic for the girls award and pick Leachman. As I said, I’m not taking away from Ritzenhein…she had some extremely impressive performances and very much deserved the award.
If they use the same logic for the girls, then Ritzenhein is the correct pick for the award. The best way to do that is to use who won more head to head competitions. If you use that logic, Simmons and Ritzenhein both get the award.
Additionally, Addie was undefeated and broke course records all season, with the exception of one race (regionals). In that race she may have just been focused on team points (she was able to secure 1 point for her team in that race) or she happened to have an off day. However, the 2 individuals that placed ahead of her that day, also all beat Leachman at NXN. The top 4 girls from the SW placed 1-2-4-6. Had Leachman had that kind of competition, she may not have been undefeated. The SW is incredibly competitive, so it's harder for the girls in that region to stand out.
If you look at it objectically, Ritzenhein clearly deserved the award over Leachman.
I don’t think Leachman had a better season. Ritzenhein was outstanding this year and so was Leachman. I just think that if they picked Simmons for POY, they should be using the same logic for the girls award and pick Leachman. As I said, I’m not taking away from Ritzenhein…she had some extremely impressive performances and very much deserved the award.
If they use the same logic for the girls, then Ritzenhein is the correct pick for the award. The best way to do that is to use who won more head to head competitions. If you use that logic, Simmons and Ritzenhein both get the award.
Additionally, Addie was undefeated and broke course records all season, with the exception of one race (regionals). In that race she may have just been focused on team points (she was able to secure 1 point for her team in that race) or she happened to have an off day. However, the 2 individuals that placed ahead of her that day, also all beat Leachman at NXN. The top 4 girls from the SW placed 1-2-4-6. Had Leachman had that kind of competition, she may not have been undefeated. The SW is incredibly competitive, so it's harder for the girls in that region to stand out.
If you look at it objectically, Ritzenhein clearly deserved the award over Leachman.
Or Leachman would have crushed them 4 times and we would be going she had a bad day or isn’t a mudder. Who really knows. Either the winner is the footlocker/nxn winner by default or you make judgement calls that people will debate..
Daniel Simmons, a Brigham Young-bound senior at American Fork High in Utah, was awarded the Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Player of the Year for the second straight season, becoming the first male competitor to secure...
