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THE WINNER: Mickey Burke

THE BASICS

School: Rush-Henrietta (N.Y.)
Grade: Senior
Position: Distance runner
Height: 5-foot-10

Athletic achievement: He raced to fourth place nationally at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships this past season with a time of 15:20. Burke won the Foot Locker Northeast Regional championships in 15:18.8 and also captured the McQuaid Invitational and the Section 5 championship. He finished third at the Class A state meet with a time of 15:07.3.

Academic excellence: Burke has maintained a B-plus average.

Exemplary character: He has volunteered locally on behalf of the Natural Helper program, a service club at Rush-Henrietta High that assists the community and students in need. 

THE PRAISE

“Mickey’s mental toughness is what sets him apart,” said Rush-Henrietta coach Mike Demay. “He doesn’t get bothered by things that bother other runners. He doesn’t dwell on defeats. He learns and he goes out the next time and does the best he can. He was heartbroken at the state meet, but he went out and ran as well as he possibly could have at Foot Locker.”

THE FUTURE: Burke has verbally committed to Syracuse.