For a list of the other Gatorade State Cross Country Runner of the Year winners, click here.

THE WINNER: Jeremy Brassard

THE BASICS

School: Coe-Brown Academy (Northwood, N.H.)
Grade: Junior
Height: 6-foot

Athletic achievement: He raced to the Meet of Champions individual title this past season with a time of 15:46.1. Also the Runner of the Year as named by the Union Leader, Concord Monitor, Foster’s Daily Democrat and New Hampshire Cross Country Coaches Association, Brassard also won the Division II individual championship in 16:08. Brassard captured a state-best 19th place at the New England Championships in 16:52.77 and finished 74th at the Nike Cross Nationals Northeast Regional championships in 17:11.7. He concluded the regular season unbeaten against New Hampshire competition.

Academic excellence: Also a track standout, Brassard has maintained a B average in the classroom.

Exemplary character: In addition to donating his time as part of food drives and community cleanup efforts, he has volunteered locally on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America, the Special Olympics, Court Appointed Special Advocates and The Way Home, an affordable-housing non-profit.

THE PRAISE

“Jeremy has overcome challenges not only to become one of the best athletes in the Northeast, but more importantly, has learned the value of citizenship and has given back tenfold,” said Coe-Brown coach Tim Cox. “Running-wise, while working a full-time camp counselor job away from home this past summer, Jeremy would do most of his training at 5 a.m. This is what separated him athletically from his peers.”

THE FUTURE: Brassard will begin his senior year of high school this fall.