Dobyns-Bennett’s Sasha Neglia Named Gatorade State Cross Country Runner of the Year
by STEVE WILMOTHTriCitiesSports.com
January 29, 2018
The Gatorade Company announced on Monday Dobyns-Bennett sophomore Sasha Neglia as the 2017-18 Gatorade Tennessee Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.
Neglia got the word early on Monday morning, not realizing the announcement was forthcoming.
“I knew that I was nominated,” said Neglia. “One my friends told me today I had won. I’m really happy about it, but it hasn’t sunk in yet. I just don’t want it to get to my head that much. I don’t want that to happen.”
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the racecourse, distinguishes Neglia as Tennessee’s best high school girls cross country runner.
She is also now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.
“There’s not anybody more deserving than Sasha,” said Dobyns-Bennett cross country coach Bob Bingham. “It’s a great honor to receive this award.”
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| Sasha Neglia |
She went on to finish second (17:27.10) at the Nike Cross Nationals Southeast Regional championships in Cary, North Carolina, qualifying her for the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon where she placed 24th with a time of 18:14.9.
“The goal was to quality for the national meet,” said Neglia. “My focus was on the qualifier and I had my best meet there. Hopefully next year, my best race will be at the national meet.”
Neglia already had two state middle school cross country state championship to her credit when she arrived at Dobyns-Bennett.
As a freshman, Neglia ran to her first high school state championship in 17:32.17 and paced the Lady Indians to a runner-up finish at the state meet.
“Sasha’s goal her freshman year was to win the state championship and she ran her best race in the state meet,” noted Bingham. “This year, her goal was to qualify for the nationals and her best race was in the Southeast qualifier, shattering her own school record. Next year, it will be something on the national stage.”
Neglia has maintained a weighted 4.45 GPA in the classroom and as a member of Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society, Neglia has volunteered locally as a youth track and swimming coach.
As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Neglia will be able to selection 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 at $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.