For the complete list of Gatorade State Cross Country Runners of the Year, click here.  

THE WINNER: Josef Holt-Andrews

THE BASICS

School: Telstar Regional (Bethel, Maine)
Grade: Senior
Position: Distance runner
Height: 6-foot-1

Athletic achievement: He raced to the Class C individual state championship with a time of 17:00.87 this past season. Also the Runner of the Year as named by the Portland Press Herald, Holt-Andrews took third place at the New England Cross Country Championships in 15:12.90. He placed fifth at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional championships in 15:36.8, and then captured All-American honors with a 10th-place finish at the national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in 15:30.

Academic excellence: Holt-Andrews has maintained an A-minus average.

Exemplary character: He has donated his time as a peer tutor and youth running instructor.

THE PRAISE

“I’ve watched his confidence and personal growth really take off over the past four years,” said Nick Scott, head coach of rival Boothbay Region (Boothbay Harbor, Maine). “He has always been a very talented runner, but even amid his success appeared hungry for more. Each of his four years, he has steadily increased his athletic abilities and capped off his senior cross-country season in an absolutely tremendous way. As an opposing coach, I have the highest respect for Josef.”

THE FUTURE: Holt-Andrews remain undecided upon a collegiate destination.