Player of the Year

The window on the Gatorade State Girls Basketball Player of the Year race is closing, and the search for elite student-athletes is in full swing. The award recognizes not only athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field. Here are two top candidates who meet the basic award criteria as determined by our ESPNHS team that administers the program’s selection process.

Stephanie Mavunga
Junior forward, Brownsburg (Ind.)

2011-12 Team record: 18-3
2011-12 Team standing: Lost in Class 4A Ben Davis Sectional first round

2011-12 Points per game: 21.6
2011-12 Rebounds per game: 12.4
2011-12 Assists per game: 1.5
2011-12 Blocks per game: 5.1
2011-12 Steals per game: 2.4

Academics: B-plus average
Collegiate destination: HS junior

How she’s played herself into the State POY conversation: Averaged 10.6 points and 6.4 rebounds to help lead United States to gold medal at FIBA Americas U16 Championships; HoopGurlz No. 15-rated prospect in Class of 2013; 2011 Third Team All-State

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INDIANAPOLIS -- The time-honored adage of student-becomes-master took on a new hue Thursday morning as two-time U.S. Olympian Dathan Ritzenheim posed as a pupil at North Central (Indianapolis, Ind.) before popping up from his desk chair to surprise Panthers senior Futsum Zeinasellassie (FOOT-sum Zen-ih-sal-ahsee) with the 2011-12 Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year trophy.

“It was just a normal Thursday and then Dathan Ritzenheim was standing there,” said Zeinasellassie. “I never thought I would win an award this big. Unbelievable. I’m in shock. On behalf of distance runners everywhere , I thank Gatorade and ESPNHS.”

The 5-foot-8, 134-pound Zeinasellassie raced to the Nike Cross Nationals Final championship this past season with a course-record time of 15:02.41. He broke the tape at the NXN Midwest Regional championships (15:42.8) as well as the Foot Locker Midwest Regional championships (14:58). Zeinasellassie finished second at the national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships with a time of 14:52.1.

The returning Gatorade Indiana Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, he also won his third consecutive individual state championship in a course-record 14:48.8 en route to a meet-record 44-second margin of victory.

“He was completely shocked,” said Ritzenhein, the former American record-holder in the 5,000-meter run who twice earned Gatorade Michigan Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year honors from 1999-01. "He had no idea I wasn’t a normal kid in his class. That was awesome. He's super nice and really deserves this.”

Ritzenheim narrowly missed qualification for the 2012 Summer Games at this month’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, finishing in fourth place and just eight seconds off the pace that would have earned a berth. The 29-year-old is a three-time USA 12K Cross Country champion and represents America’s brightest hope for a medal in the 5K or 10K in London.

The 2003 NCAA Cross Country Champion at the University of Colorado, Ritzenheim twice won Foot Locker nationals as a prep star for Rockford (Mich.).

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A dedicated ESPNHS team managed the Gatorade State Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year selection process, resulting in winners based on the program's three pillars: athletic production and impact in the 2011 season, high academic achievement and exemplary personal character.

For his 50 fellow Gatorade State Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year winners, click here.

THE WINNER: Futsum Zeinasellassie

THE BASICS

School: North Central (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Grade: Senior
Height: 5-foot-8

THE PILLARS

Athletic achievement: Zeinasellassie raced to the Nike Cross Nationals championship this past season with a course-record time of 15:02.41. The state’s returning Gatorade Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, he also won his third consecutive individual state championship in a course-record 14:48.8, by a meet-record margin of 44 seconds. He broke the tape at the NXN Midwest Regional championships in 15:42.8, the Foot Locker Midwest Regional championship in 14:58 and finished second at the national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships with a time of 14:52.1.

Academic excellence: Zeinasellassie has maintained a B average in the classroom.

Exemplary character: A devoted member of his church community, he has volunteered with youth track programs and raised funds to benefit a school in Kenya.

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A dedicated ESPNHS team managed the Gatorade State Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year selection process, resulting in winners based on the program's three pillars: athletic production and impact in the 2011 season, high academic achievement and exemplary personal character.

THE WINNER: Katie Knight

THE BASICS

School: North Central (Spokane, Wash.)
Grade: Junior
Height: 5-foot-6

THE PILLARS

Athletic achievement: Knight raced to the Class 3A individual state championship this past season with a course-record time of 17:10.6. She also captured third at the Nike Cross Nationals Final in 17:45. Knight earned victories at the Bob Firman Invitational and the Nike Border Clash, and finished second at the NXN Northwest Regional championships in 17:58.1.

Academic excellence: Knight has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom.

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The cross country season may have concluded, but the search for Gatorade State Boys Cross Country Runners of the Year is in full swing. The award recognizes not only athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated. The winner of the state championship meet certainly made a case, but did he do enough on and off the course this past season to capture the prestigious statewide honor?

Futsum Zeinasellassie
Senior, North Central High (Indianapolis, IN)

2011 Team postseason standing: 12th
2011 State meet finish (Place—time): 1^st—14:48.8

2011 Foot Locker regional (Place—time): 1^st—14:58
2011 Foot Locker nationals (Place—time): 2^nd—14:52.1

2011 Nike Cross Nationals regional (Place—time): 1^st—15:42.8
2011 Nike Cross Nationals Finals (Place—time): 1^st—15:02.41

Winning the state meet isn't a prerequisite for Gatorade State Cross Country Runner of the Year, so here are some more of many other harriers whose performances this past season vaulted them into the conversation during this 2011 campaign.

Michael Sublette: Senior, Columbus North High (Columbus, IN)
Sam Berger: Senior, Zionsville High (Zionsville, IN)
Mitchell Hubner: Senior, LaPorte High (LaPorte, IN)
Chris Kelsey: Senior, Columbus North High (Columbus, IN)

Think we're missing a deserving Gatorade State Runner of the Year candidate in your state? Let us know via e-mail at ESPNHS_GPOY@ESPN.com or Twitter @ESPNHS_Awards.

The cross country season may have concluded, but the search for Gatorade State Girls Cross Country Runners of the Year is in full swing. The award recognizes not only athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated. These state meet winners made a case in their respective classifications, but did they do enough on and off the course this past season to capture the prestigious statewide honor?

Maddie Meyers
Senior, Northwest School (Seattle, WA)

2011 Team postseason standing: 3rd (Class 1A)
2011 State meet finish (Place—time): 1st—17:54.6

2011 Foot Locker regional (Place—time): 22nd—19:05

Emily Pittis
Freshman, Sehome High (Bellingham, WA)

2011 Team postseason standing: 2nd (Class 2A)
2011 State meet finish (Place—time): 1st—18:17

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The 2011-12 Gatorade State Cross Country Runners of the Year selection process is underway, and what better way to kick off coverage than with profiles of returning underclassmen winners? Repeating is no guarantee, but here's a snapshot of what this year’s challengers can shoot for …

Name: Futsum Zeinasellassie

Position: Distance runner

Grade: Senior

School: North Central (Ind.)

College: Undecided

Height: 5-foot-7

Notes: 2010-11 Gatorade Indiana Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year ... 2010 state meet individual champion ... 2010 Foot Locker Midwest Regional runner-up ... 2010 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships runner-up ... 2009 state meet individual champion ... 2009 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships seventh-place finisher

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