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Emily Edwards - GATORADE FLORIDA GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR 2013Published by
Emily Edwards - Ft Myers Green Wave - Gatorade Girl Runner of the Year Q: First Congratulations on an outstanding season and a well deserved accolade from Gatorade being named Florida XC Runner of the Year. Was this a surprise for you?
A: Thank you so much. I didn't even know and Caroline (Barlow) texted me congrats and I was like; Wow, really? It is such an honor, I was shocked. It is such an honor.
 Caroline Barlow (L) and Emily Edwards - FHSAA XC Fnals - Roll Tide
Q: What does it mean to join the likes of Bridget Blake, Olivia Ortiz, Kathryn Fluehr and Ashley Brasovan as Gatorade XC Runner's of the Year?
A: It is a cool feeling to be named in the same sentence as those amazing athletes mush less as their peer. I have nothing but the utmost respect for them and consider them my role models. I am humbled. Can't wait to be on the same team as Olivia this coming Fall!
 Emily Edwards and Olivia Ortiz
Q: 4.0 in the academic classroom, musician in the school orchestra, full time athlete…. How do you balance all that and succeed?
A: There is definitely some sleep depravation involved, LOL. Seriously, Intense time management & huge family support is the key for me. My Mom packs me a huge lunch-pack every day for the calories I need and my Dad and sisters are there for me every step of the way. Love them all!
Q: 7 years of XC/track has had its ups and downs...how did you persevere?
A: It started with being in love with running and competing in 6th grade at Canterbury School. I succeeded at the MS level on the state level and felt ready to take on High School running. I had the Iron deficiency problem starting my sophomore year and took a lot of negative criticism about it, but with my doctors, the help of my family and Coach Kelly (Britton) I pushed through that and focused on the positive. It all worked out in the end.
Q: You are the defending 3A 1600 state champion, what are your goals for track season?
A: Really focused on helping my team achieve the most this season. Individually, I want to improve my 800m times so I can get my 1600m time below 4:50 and hopefully qualify for the Dream Mile. Oh, yeah and defend my title of course. LOL.
Q: Thank you for taking time to talk with me tonight (Robert Brown), best of luck this season and congratulations again. See you next weekend at Jimmy Carnes.
A: Thank you!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Matt Schiffman (312-729-3672) FORT MYERS HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUT NAMED GATORADE FLORIDA GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR CHICAGO (January 8, 2014) — In its 29th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Emily Edwards of Fort Myers High School as its 2013-14 Gatorade Florida Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year. Edwards is the first Gatorade Florida Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year to be chosen from Fort Myers High School. The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the racecourse, distinguishes Edwards as Florida’s best high school girls cross country runner. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year award to be announced in January, Edwards joins an elite alumni association of past state award- winners in 12 sports, including Ryan Hall (1999-00, 2000-01, Big Bear HS, Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.) and Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.). The 5-foot-10 senior raced to the Class 3A individual state championship this past season with a time of 18:09.24. Edwards also won the Southwest Florida Invitational, the District 11 championship, the Region 3 title and the Lee County Athletic Conference crown. She finished second at the FSU Pre-State Invitational and the flrunners.com Invitational. Edwards has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA in the classroom. Also a talented musician, she has volunteered locally on behalf of youth running programs, and has raised funds to benefit cancer and leukemia research. “Emily is currently running at a high level,” said Fort Myers head coach Kelly Heinzman-Britton. “She’s also proven to be a great leader, on and off the course. She’s just an extraordinary young lady, and without a doubt, one of the school’s best all-around students.” Edwards has verbally committed to an athletic scholarship at the University of Alabama beginning in the fall of 2014. The Gatorade Player of the Year program 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 & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport. Edwards joins Gatorade Florida Girls Cross Country Runners of the Year Bridget Blake (2012-13, Dr. Phillips High School), Olivia Ortiz (2011-12, Lakewood Ranch High School), Kathryn Fluehr (2010-11 & 2009-10, The Community School of Naples), and Ashley Brasovan (2008-09 & 2007-08, Wellington) as athletes who have won the cross country award since its inception in 2007. To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy. ### More news |
