For a list of the other Gatorade State Girls Track & Field Athletes of the Year, click here

THE WINNER: Maiya Dendy

THE BASICS

School: Padua Academy (Wilmington, Del.)
Grade: Junior
Event: Sprints
Height: 5-foot-7

Athletic achievement: She won the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.07 seconds and the 200 in 24.41 at the Meet of Champions this past season. The state’s returning Gatorade Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year, Dendy also ran the lead leg of the winning 4×400-meter relay quartet that broke the tape in 3:55.89. At the Division I championships, she led the Pandas to the team title, winning the 100 in 11.81 and running the opening leg of the first-place 4×400 relay that crossed the line in 4:02.65. She also took second in the 200 (24.60) and 400 (58.08) at the divisional state meet. The state record-holder in all three sprinting events, her fastest 100 and 400 times this spring both ranked among the nation’s top 67 performance among prep competitors in 2014 at the time of her selection.

Academic excellence: Dendy has maintained a B average.

Exemplary character: In addition to volunteering locally on behalf of multiple community-service initiatives, she has donated her time as manager of her school’s cross country team.

THE PRAISE

“Maiya is a fun and easygoing teammate, yet always remains determined and focused,” said Padua head coach Marnie Giunta. “When it’s time for competition, she is calm, cool and mature in how she handles herself in the pressure situations.”

THE FUTURE: Dendy will be a senior this fall.