Kalaheo’s Colby Otero is Hawaii’s Gatorade cross country runner of the year, the Gatorade Company announced recently.
Otero is the first Gatorade Hawaii Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year to be chosen from Kalaheo. The awad recognizes outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field.
A 5-foot-7, 125-pound senior, Otero won the state meet last fall with a time of 16 minutes, 21.91 seconds, breaking the tape 22.83 seconds ahead of his next-closest competitor and leading the Mustangs to a fifth-place finish as a team.
Otero won seven of nine races during the season, with no one coming within 10 seconds of him in any of his victories.
Otero has volunteered locally as a youth running coach.
“Colby is fun to watch because he gives everything he’s got,” Kalaheo coach Peter Jay said. “There was never a day he took a break or wanted easy.”
Otero has maintained a 3.46 GPA in the classroom, according to the Gatorade Company.
Recent Gatorade Hawaii Boys Cross Country runners of the year
>> 2017: Colby Otero, Kalaheo
>> 2016: Connor Lehl, Punahou
>> 2015: Kaeo Kruse, Kamehameha
>> 2014: Kaeao Kruse, Kamehameha
>> 2013: Davis Kaahanui, Kamehameha
>> 2012: Davis Kaahanui, Kamehameha
>> 2011: Troy Esaki, ‘Iolani
>> 2010: Jordan Thibodeau, Kamehameha
>> 2009: Pierce Murphy, Island School
>> 2008: Bryce Jenkins, Leilehua
>> 2007: Bryce Jenkins, Leilehua
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