Timpview senior makes it two recipients in a row from Utah, following future BYU teammate Casey Clinger

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Aidan Troutner has broken the finish line tape in races throughout Utah, along with Arizona and Oregon, but the one he stepped through Tuesday held a different significance for the Timpview High senior.

Walking home from school with a friend, Troutner was surprised when he reached the gate outside his house and was greeted by not only family members, but representatives for Gatorade presenting him with another finish tape to break in celebrating his recognition as the National Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year.

VIDEO OF TROUTNER'S PRESENTATION

“It was just crazy,” Troutner said. “To win it is just an incredible honor. To be mentioned in the same breath as some of the best athletes of all-time, including in running, to be able to with those guys is just an incredible honor that I’m really happy about.”

TROUTNER GATORADE INTERVIEW

Troutner, who captured the Nike Cross Nationals title Dec. 2, follows two-time NXN winner Casey Clinger of American Fork UT as the Gatorade national boys honoree. All award recipients are based on athletic achievement, academic excellence and exemplary character.

NXN BOYS RACE VIDEO | TROUTNER'S NXN INTERVIEW

Troutner and Clinger, cousins and future Brigham Young teammates, join girls volleyball players Logan Tom of Highland and Kristin Richards Hildebrand of Timpanogos as the only Utah student-athletes to receive Gatorade National Player of the Year honors in any sport among the 309 honorees since 1985-86.

Troutner is the ninth male athlete to be selected as the national cross country recipient, since the award was added to the Gatorade program in 2008. That includes two-time honorees Lukas Verzbicas of Carl Sandburg IL in 2010-11 and Grant Fisher of Grand Blanc MI in 2014-15.

“I hadn’t really thought about it before this year, about the Gatorade National Player of the Year and how it’s those three criteria. I thought it was just based on your performance on the field,” Troutner said. “To be mentioned in the same breath as them is amazing, but especially Casey, he’s just an incredible guy and a really good friend of mine that I’ve come to know and love over the past years. It’s an honor to follow in his footsteps and bring one back for future BYU teammates, for Utah county and the state of Utah, in general.”

Troutner captured the Utah 5A title in 14 minutes, 48.8 seconds Oct. 18, the second-fastest time in Sugarhouse Park history trailing only Clinger’s 14:42.9 in 2016, then secured the Nike Southwest Regional crown Nov. 18 in 14:50 in Casa Grande, Ariz.

Troutner showcased again at NXN why he possesses one of the strongest kicks in the country, surging past Brodey Hasty of Brentwood TN in the final 400 meters to win the championship in 15:03.9 at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, Ore.

It marked the second year in a row the NXN winner received the Gatorade boys award after the Foot Locker champion was recognized from 2013-16.

“I had barely thought it about before NXN, because before NXN my entire focus was on NXN, just making sure I did well there,” Troutner said. “After the euphoria from Nike Cross Nationals and after I had kind of settled down and was taking some time off and just going to school and just having a regular life, I did think about it a little bit just because I knew Casey had gotten it last year. Just knowing him, I knew that it was an option that I could also receive it as well, so it’s just a huge honor for it to finally happen, it really is a dream come true.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve always wanted to win a state title, but I hadn’t thought about up to this level. Being able to reach this level is incredible.”

Troutner is now eligible to be honored as Gatorade national boys athlete of the year at a Southern California ceremony in July that precedes the ESPYs. Although a boys cross country runner has yet to win the overall award in the past 15 years it has been presented, just being part of the same history as NBA MVP and All-Star LeBron James held great significance for Troutner.

“Especially some of these guys, I mean LeBron James I’ve watched since I was 4 years old. Those guys and those professional athletes that I’ve seen growing up and been like, ‘I want to be an athlete like them.’ To be mentioned in that same breath as those guys is just incredible,” Troutner said. “To see the work they’ve put in and know that I’ve put in a similar amount of work to get to the point that they’re at and the point that I’m at. It’s just an incredible opportunity that I’ve been given and I’m really excited about it.”

Growing up in a family with nine siblings, Troutner said receiving the Gatorade award wouldn’t have been possible without their support, along with the wisdom, guidance and encouragement of his mother Stacy.

“That support has always been there, but I haven’t really appreciated it I don’t think as much until I got into running,” Troutner said. “Running can be really hard and it’s really stressful and it takes a toll on you mentally and physically, and so I owe a lot, especially to my mom, who is always there for me and made sure she’s happy for me no matter what. If I got last place in a race or first place, if I had done my best, she was always happy with me. That was something I knew, so I knew I was never going to disappoint my family.”