Texas Gatorade Track & Field Athletes of The Year


Kynnedy Flannel after 100m win at state

Press release by Gatorade

ALVIN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE NAMED GATORADE TEXAS GIRLS TRACK & FIELD PLAYER OF THE YEAR

CHICAGO (June 22, 2017) - In its 32nd year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, today announced Kynnedy Flannel of Alvin High School as its 2016-17 Gatorade Texas Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Flannel is the first Gatorade Texas Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Alvin 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 Flannel as Texas' 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, Flannel joins an elite alumni association of state track & field award-winners, including Lolo Jones (1997-98, Roosevelt High School, Iowa), Allyson Felix (2002-03, Los Angeles Baptist High School, Calif.), Robert Griffin III (2006-07, Copperas Cove High School, Texas), Grant Fisher (2013-14 & 2014-15, Grand Blanc High School, Mich.) and Candace Hill (2014-15, Rockdale County High School, Ga.).

The 5-foot-10 junior won a trio of individual events at the Class 6A state meet this past season, all three with marks that ranked among the nation's top seven prep performances in 2017 at the time of her selection. Flannel soared a meetrecord 21 feet, 2.75 inches to win the long jump, broke the tape in the 100-meter dash in 11.43 seconds and captured the 200 in 23.34. She also won the 200 at this month's New Balance Nationals Outdoor in 23.72, while placing second in the long jump.

A devoted member of her church youth group, Flannel has volunteered locally on behalf of a food pantry, the Salvation Army and youth track programs. "She understands what it takes to be the best at what she does," said Alvin coach Reggie Taylor. "Sheer determination and hard work are what set her apart."

Flannel has maintained an A average in the classroom. She will begin her senior year of high school 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 the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, 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. Flannel joins recent Gatorade Texas Girls Track & Field Athletes of the Year Tonea Marshall (2015-16, Seguin High School), Samantha Gonzalez (2014-15, Creekview High School), Desiree Freier (2013-14, Northwest High School), Alaysha Johnson (2012-13, Spring High School), Shelbi Vaughan (2011-12, Legacy High School), Jennifer Madu (2010- 11, Plano East Senior High School), A'Lexus Brannon (2009-10, Ozen Magnet High School), Chelsey Sveinsson (2008- 09, Greenhill School), Donique' Flemings (2007-08, Saginaw High School), and Erica Alexander (2006-07, Clear Brook High School) among the state's list of former award winners.

As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Kynnedy will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support. 12 spotlight grants - one for each sport - will be announced throughout the year.

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 www.gatorade.com/poy.