London Culbreath Wins Second Straight Texas Gatorade Cross Country AOY

Feb 02, 2018

London Culbreath competes at the 2016 Nike Cross Nationals

This year marks the 33nd year of Gatorade honoring the nation's best high school athletes. Last year, they announced McKinney North's London Culbreath as its 2016-17 Gatorade Texas Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year. Now a sophomore, Culbreath is awarded the same honor for the second year in a row. She is the first Gatorade Texas Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year to be chosen from McKinney North High School.

The Gatorade award not only recognizes athletic excellence, but it also recognizes high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the racecourse. Culbreath has volunteered for several community outlets and causes at same time maintaining a 3.93 GPA.

Athletically, she was able to string together another outstanding cross country season of great individual performances to win this award.

London blazes in a sub 17!!! pic.twitter.com/RUiIoeiEgE
-- Texas MileSplit (@TXMileSplit) November 4, 2017

McKinney North head coach Jessica Richards and Culbreath planned a season schedule that would showcase less races this season keeping Culbreath fresh and healthy.

Along the way, she racked up wins throughout the season with victories at big invitationals like the

Southlake Carroll Invitational, the Nike South Invitational and the UIL 5A - Region 2 meet. Culbreath would go on to win her second straight UIL 5A individual state championship this past season when she set a course-record with the time of 16:56. Culbreath also won the Nike Cross Nationals South Regional championships (NXR) in 17:33.55 and finished 31st nationally at the NXN Final.

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.