Morgan Smalls Earns North Carolina Gatorade POY Honors


Panther Creek senior Morgan Smalls has earned her second straight North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year Honors.  Despite the 2020 Outdoor Season being cancelled by the COVID-19 global pandemic, Smalls showed she was in peak form during the indoor season where she was the state leader in the High Jump, Long Jump and Triple Jump as well as the US Leader in the High Jump and Triple Jump while being US#2 in the Long Jump.

"The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Smalls as North Carolina's best high school girls track & field athlete."

Smalls joins an elite group of two time North Carolina two-time Gatorade Player of the Year winners dating back to 1987 with Adriane Sims, LaTasha Pharr, Mackenzie Pierce, Gabby Mayo, Wesley Frazier and Anna Cockrell.

The 2019 Indoor and Outdoor High Jump National Champion with attend the University of Southern California next fall and will go down as one of North Carolina's all-time great Track & Field athletes.  

Smalls should be in the running for Gatorade National Player of the Year Honors as well which should be announced in the next few weeks.

Press Release

2020 State by State Winners

North Carolina Girls Track & Field Gatorade Winners

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

2019 - Morgan Smalls,Panther Creek

2020 -Morgan Smalls,Panther Creek