In a surprise presentation, Tate Taylor, a rising senior at Harlan High School, was named the 2024-25 Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Player of the Year.
Having won the state player of the year, Taylor said he thought the celebration was about that accomplishment. 鈥淚 was very surprised when I learned it was for the national player of the year,鈥 he said.
鈥淚 am just soaking it all in right now,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hen I get home and relax a bit, I鈥檓 sure I鈥檒l look back on it and be like, man, I really did it!鈥
Taylor joins an all-star group of former recipients who have combined for more than 19 gold medals and 19 gold medals and 14 National Championships. Taylor was selected from more than half a million other student-athletes who participate in high school boys track & field nationwide.
At the 2025 UIL 6A State Champions, Taylor all-time 100m National Record running a wind-legal 9.92 seconds, the fastest ever by a U.S. high school athlete. He also broke a state record in the 200m dash at 20.14 to complete an unprecedented double. In his most recent race, Taylor placed first in the 2025 Nike Outdoor Nationals with a time of 10.10 seconds in the 100m dash.
Taylor was surprised with the trophy at school surrounded by his family, coaches and teammates. Following the surprise, Taylor got a taste of the pro athlete experience with a styling session, photoshoot and media interviews.
"We are really excited for Tate on his accomplishments both on and off the track," said Coach Eddie Salas, Athletic Coordinator for Harlan High School. "Tate is an outstanding student-athlete and an incredible young man who inspires his teammates and fellow students on a daily basis. I fully expect to be in the stands in Los Angeles watching him run in the 2028 Summer Olympics."
Gatorade Players of the Year are not only the best of the best in their respective sports, but they鈥檙e also role models and leaders off the field. Taylor has volunteered locally with the Special Olympics and has maintained a strong academic record.
As part of Gatorade鈥檚 commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $5.6 million in grants to winners across more than 2,000 organizations.
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