KYLER MURRAY and CANDACE HILL Named Gatorade High School Athletes of the Year

LOS ANGELES, July 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The biggest names in high school and professional sports convened in Los Angeles tonight as Gatorade honored the top prep male and female athletes at the 13^th annual Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year awards. Gatorade National Football Player of the Year Kyler Murray (Allen High School/Allen, Texas) was named the 2015 Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year and Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year Candace Hill (Rockdale County High School/Conyers, Ga.) received the 2015 Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year honor, becoming the first sophomore, male or female, to ever win the prestigious award.

Murray and Hill were honored at the awards dinner emceed by ESPN's Hannah Storm and attended by J.J. Watt (Houston Texans defensive end and two-time AP Defensive Player of the Year), Karl-Anthony Towns (2015 No. 1 overall NBA draft pick and 2014 Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year), DeMarco Murray (Philadelphia Eagles running back and 2014 NFL Offensive Player of the Year), Landon Donovan (former captain and all-time leading scorer of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team), Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors forward and 2015 NBA champion), Abby Wambach (U.S. Women's National Soccer Team forward and Women's World Cup champion), Candace Parker (two-time WNBA MVP and 2004 Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year) and Julie Foudy (former midfielder and captain of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team and National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee).

Celebrating its 30^th year (established in 1985), 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. One National Player of the Year is awarded in each sport. In addition to athletic excellence, the award recognizes academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field. In 2003, the Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year awards were established to identify and honor the nation's top overall male and female high school athletes from among the 12 Gatorade National Players of the Year recognized during the high school athletic season.

All Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year nominees will walk The ESPYS red carpet and be featured as special guests during The ESPYS. The show will take place Wednesday evening and air live on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET.

"Over the past 30 years, Gatorade has had the privilege to honor the best and brightest athletes in sport by awarding the Gatorade Player of the Year to student-athletes that excel not only on the playing field, but also in their classrooms and communities," said Gatorade Chief Marketing Officer Morgan Flatley. "Kyler and Candace embody the true spirit of the Gatorade brand at its core and we're excited to see what their futures hold."

2015 GATORADE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

Kyler Murray: Going 42-0 during his career as a starting quarterback at Allen High School, Murray led the Eagles to a third straight Class 6A, Division I state championship this past season. As the state's returning Gatorade Football Player of the Year, Murray threw for more than 4,700 yards to go along with 54 passing touchdowns, and rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and 25 touchdowns. He has committed to Texas A&M and will hit the field this fall.

• Led an offense that averaged 49.4 points per game
• USA TODAY American Family Insurance ALL-USA Football Offensive Player of the Year
• 2015 Under Armour All-America Football Game selection
• Threw for 10,386 yards and rushed for 4,139 in three-year prep varsity career
• First prep athlete selected for Under Armour All-America Game in both football and baseball
• 3.40 GPA
• Volunteer at Reading With the Eagles Program, an elementary education literacy and anti-bullying program
• Participated in the Nike Night of Champions Giving Back Program for youth empowerment through athletics
• Goodwill ambassador in association with multiple charities and child disability needs

Candace Hill: The first sophomore to ever win Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year honors, Hill became the first high school girl to break the 11-second barrier in the 100-meter dash, clocking a time of 10.98 at the Brooks PR meet. This record-setting performance makes her the world's fastest Junior (under 20) in the event this year. The returning Gatorade Georgia Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year, Hill won the 200-meter dash with a state-record time of 23.05 seconds, as well as the 100-meter dash in a state-record time of 11.34 at the Class 6A GHSA Track & Field State Championships this spring.

• Youngest athlete in the 30-year history of the program to win Gatorade National Player of the Year honors
• Third sophomore (and second female) to win Gatorade National Player of the Year honors in the program's history, joining prep track legend Marion Jones
• 100 & 200 champion at World Youth Trials, advancing to this month's IAAF World Youth Championships
• Brooks PR Most Outstanding Performer in 2015
• 4.61 GPA
• Inductee into the National Society for High School Scholars
• Member of her school's Junior Beta Club
• Serves as an ambassador for the Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology
• Has participated in holiday toy drives with separate philanthropic organizations

2015 GATORADE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES

The 2014-15 Gatorade National Players of the Year representing six male and six female sports who were nominated for the Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year awards.

PAST GATORADE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

Former winners of Gatorade Male and Female High School Athlete of the Year honorees include:

For more information on the Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year awards and the Gatorade Player of the Year program, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.

SOURCE Gatorade

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