Davis, Fraley Earn Gatorade Player Of The Year Honors

Jason Creasy

Veronica Fraley (Wakefield) and Jamar Davis (Orange) have been awarded North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year honors for the 2017-2018 Outdoor Track season.


Fraley has been dominant in the throws this year throwing a discus state record of 175-9 where she won both the NCHSAA 4A State Championship and New Balance National Championship in the event.  Fraley also moved to NC#2 All-Time in the Shot Put Outdoors with a throw of 49-5.5.  Fraley won the NCHSAA 4A State Championship Indoors and Outdoors in the event and also took 4th Indoors and Outdoors at New Balance Nationals in the event.  Fraley will end her high school careers as the states best overall thrower as she heads to Clemson in the fall to continue her career.


Davis ends the year with an indoor and outdoor All-American finish in the Triple Jump.  He also won the Long Jump and Triple Jump indoors and outdoors at the NCHSAA 3A State Championships.  He also picked up a runner-up finish in the 300m Hurdles in an NC#5 mark of 38.02.  Davis placed 16th at the National meet in the 400m Hurdles clocking an NC#2 and NC#24 All-Time mark of 54.40.  Davis holds PRs of 50-3.25, good for NC#2, in the triple jump and 23-5 in the long jump.  Davis will continue jumping and hurdling at NC State this fall.

Below is all of North Carolina Outdoor Track Gatorade Players of the years dating back to 1986 when the award first took place for Track & Field.

Boys Track & Field

1986- Terrell Carpenter, Hoke County

1987- Elbert Ellis, Hillside

1988- Randy Jordan, Warren County

1989- Larry Harrington, Millbrook

1990- David Adair, Garinger

1991- Brian Ellis, North Rowan

1992- Shannon Pope, High Point Andrews

1993- Alvis Whitted, Orange

1994- Robbie Howell, Apex

1995- Chris Wylie, Myers Park

1996- Ramando North, West Charlotte

1997- Greg Yeldell, North Rowan

1998- Greg Yeldell, North Rowan

1999- Thomas Lewis, Byrd

2000- Ricky Brookshire, Watauga

2001- Robert Boulware, Z.B. Vance

2002- Mike Loyd, Mt. Tabor

2003- Matt Debole, Mt. Tabor

2004- Andre Tillman, North Rowan

2005- J-Mee Samuels, Mt. Tabor

2006- Jack Bolas, Chapel Hill

2007- Johnny Dutch, Clayton

2008- Dylan Ferris, East Forsyth

2009- Wayne Davis, Southeast Raleigh

2010- Isaac Presson, Asheville

2011- Eric Winfrey, Byrd

2012- Craig Engels, Reagan

2013- John Crossley, West Carteret

2014- Trentavis Friday, Cherryville

2015- Keon Howe, Mallard Creek

2016- Marcus Krah, Hillside

2017- Connor Lane, Cardinal Gibbons

2018 - Jamar Davis, Orange

Girls Track & Field

1986- Pam Doggett, Dudley

1987- Francis Dumas, T.C. Roberson

1988- L'Tania Hall, Washington

1989- Melissa Morrison, A.L. Brown

1990- Nikki Friday, Lexington

1991- Tonya Avery, Jacksonville

1992- Ami Herrman, Providence

1993- Karen Godlock, Polk County

1994- DeAnne Davis, Cummings

1995- Twyla Smith, Pinecrest

1996- Adriane Sims, Byrd

1997- Adriane Sims, Byrd

1998- Demetria Washington, Sanford

1999- Kim Jones, Grimsley

2000- Latasha Pharr, North Rowan

2001- Latasha Pharr, North Rowan

2002- Julia Lucas, Myers Park

2003- Mackenzie Pierce, Forsyth Country Day

2004- Mackenzie Pierce, Forsyth Country Day

2005- Kamorean Hayes, Harding

2006- Gabby Mayo, Southeast Raleigh

2007- Gabby Mayo, Southeast Raleigh

2008- Jacinda Evans, Southern Durham

2009- Aslynn Halvorson, Butler

2010- Sanura Eley O'Reilly, Jack Britt

2011- Keni Harrison, Clayton

2012- Wesley Frazier, Ravenscroft

2013- Wesley Frazier, Ravenscroft

2014- Sydnei Murphy, Apex

2015- Anna Cockrell, Providence Day

2016- Anna Cockrell, Providence Day

2017- Tamara Clark, High Point Central

2018 - Veronica Fraley, Wakefield