Destiny Phillips - DC Girls Gatorade T&F Athlete of the Year

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

   Contact:  Lauren Rollins (312-729-3607)                                                                                                                                     

 

Dunbar High School STANDOUT NAMED
GATORADE District of Columbia

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

 

CHICAGO (June 21, 2011) — In its 26th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, today announced Destiny Phillips of Dunbar High School as its 2010-11 Gatorade District of Columbia Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year.  Phillips is the second Gatorade District of Columbia Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Dunbar 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 track, distinguishes Phillips as District of Columbia’s best high school girls track & field athlete.  Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year award to be announced in June, Phillips joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Allyson Felix (2001-02, Los Angeles Baptist, 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.), Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.), Lolo Jones (1997-98, Roosevelt HS, Ia.) and Bianca Knight (2006-07, Ridgeland HS, Miss.).

 

The 5-foot-4 senior hurdler and jumper won three individual state titles this spring and led the Crimson Tide to the District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association City Championship as a team. Phillips captured the 100-meter high hurdles with a time of 14.90 seconds, the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in 45.00 and the high jump with a leap of four feet, 10 inches. A two-time Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention selection, Phillips also claimed first-place at the DCIAA East/West Championships in the 100 hurdles (15.00) and the 300 hurdles (47.11).

 

Phillips has maintained a 3.5 GPA in the classroom. An accomplished vocalist in her school’s choir, she has volunteered locally as a peer tutor and on behalf of food and clothing drives for families in need.

 

“Destiny Phillips has made herself into an elite track and field athlete,” said Tony Bowden, head coach of rival Roosevelt High. “She was by far the best performer at this year’s city meet and led her team to a championship. She is outstanding.”

 

Phillips has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in track and field on scholarship at Baltimore’s Goucher College this fall.

 

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 ESPN RISE and the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, 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.

 

Phillipsjoins recent Gatorade District of Columbia Girls Track & Field Athletes of the Year Angela Bonham (2009-10 & 2008-09, Dunbar) and JuaShaunna Kelly (2007-08, Roosevelt) among the state’s list of former award winners.

 

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 playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.

 

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