ALL-USA Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, Noah Lyles (Photo: Mario Jose Sanchez, AP)

Noah Lyles of Williams (Alexandria, Va.) has been named the 2015-16 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

The ALL-USA teams are coordinated by Fred Baer, founder, Track and Field Writers of America.  Boys selections by Jack Shepard, high school editor of Track and Field News.

Boys Track & Field Coach of the Year:  Doug Soles, Great Oaks (Temecula, Calif.)

Sprints

Hurdles

Long Sprints and Middle Distance

Distances

Throws

Jumps

ATHLETE PROFILE:

Name: Noah Lyles
School: Williams (Alexandria, Va.)
Year: Senior
Events: Sprints

Highlights: Noah Lyles broke the 31-year-old high school record for the 200 meters at the U.S. Olympic Track Team Trials in Eugene, Ore. this month to repeat as the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year. The senior at T.C. Williams (Alexandria, Va.) ran 20.04 seconds to finish fourth in a race won by multi-Olympic medalist Justin Gatlin in 19.75 and gained first alternate status for the Rio Olympic Games.

The wind-legal race was the decider between the top two AOY candidates. Michael Norman of Rancho Murrieta (Murrieta, Calif.) finished a step back in fifth at 20.14 to rank co-No. 3 all-time (just .01 off the existing record of 20.13 set in 1985 by Roy Martin of Roosevelt, Dallas that Lyles eclipsed).  

“I think that’s icing on the cake to what I had to do,” said Lyles regarding the record. “I came out and ran three of my best races and I got the PR at the end.” He also ran a wind-aided 20.04 to win a first round heat, well ahead of 2-time Olympic bronze medalist Walter Dix. That was the second fastest high school time under all conditions, just .01 behind the “windy” 20.03 in 2014 by Trentavis Friday, then a senior at Cherryville, N.C. – and who was also beaten by Lyles in both sprints at the Trials.   

Lyles also topped the 2016 high school lists at 100 meters, improving his season best by .01 to 10.16 in an Olympic Trials heat won by Gatlin (the current world leader). Lyles set a junior class record of 10.04 last year, which makes him the No. 5 all-time high school performer at the century distance.  

Lyles had previously beaten Norman in the 200 meters in 2015 to claim the USATF National Junior championship – on the same University of Oregon track – and went onto win the Pan American Junior title. He was also the 2014 Youth Olympic Games gold medalist in the 200.

As an Olympic alternate, Lyles will await any change in the plans of defending Olympic 400 meter champion LaShawn Merritt to double back in the 200 at Rio after qualifying second in the Olympic Trials race.

“He might change his mind, so there’s still a possibility,” said Lyles. “But I can deal with it. I came in fourth in my first Olympic Trials. I’m very satisfied.”

No American high school boys track athlete has competed in the Olympic Games since 1976.

Teams coordinated by Fred Baer, founder, Track and Field Writers of America.  Girls selections by Mike Kennedy, high school editor of Track and Field News.

Criteria included ranking on USA TODAY and Track and Field News national lists and the number of top performances, along with head-to-head competition during the regular season and in major postseason meets.

Lauren Rain (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

MORE: 

Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year: Sydney McLaughlin, Union Catholic

Girls Track & Field Coach of the Year: Brian Fitzgerald, Rio Mesa

Long Sprints and Middle Distance

Distances

Hurdles

Throws

Jumps

Here are the athletes selected in sprints (100,200). Returning ALL-USA selections are denoted with asterisks (*).

HSR indicates all-time U.S. high school record mark.
WJR indicates World Junior (under age 20) record.
w = wind-aided (more than 2.0 meters a second), over the limit for record purposes.
i = performed indoors.

SPRINTS (100 and 200)

First Team

Lynna Irby 
School:  Pike, Indianapolis
Year:  Junior
Times and events: 11.50, 100; 23.53, 200; 52.51, 400.

Jayla Kirkland
School:  Woodlawn (Birmingham, Ala.)
Year:   Senior
Times and events:  11.41, 100;  23.15, 200.

Kaelin Roberts
School:  Carson, Calif.
Year:  Junior
Times and events:  11.57, 100; 23.52 (23.40w), 200;  52.28,  400.

*Lauren Rain Williams
School: Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Year:  Junior
Times and events:  11.39 (11.17w), 100; 22.80 (22.44w), 200.

TRACKINGS: Kirkland was second in the 100 at the USATF Junior Nationals with a personal best 11.41 — behind high school pro Candace Hill, the 2015 All-USA athlete of the year. Kirkland won the 200 in 23.15. Irby won the 400 in 52.51. All earned berths on the USA team for the IAAF World Junior Championships, July 19-24, in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Roberts was undefeated in the 400 and won the California (CIF)state meet 400 in 52.28, second fastest prep time this year. Williams was the best high school 200 runner but saw her season end with a muscle pull in the state 200 final.

Second Team

Celera Barnes
School:  St. Bonaventure (Ventura, Calif.)
Year:  Senior
Times and events:   11.41, 100; 23.50 (23.25w), 200.

Kaylor Harris
School:  Horn, (Mesquite, Tx.)
Year:  Junior
Times and events:  11.34, 100.

Vashti Cunningham (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

The 2015-16 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Track and Field teams are coordinated by Fred Baer, the founder of Track and Field Writers of America. Girls selections are made by Mike Kennedy, the high school editor of Track and Field News.

Criteria included ranking on USA TODAY Sports and Track and Field News national lists and the number of top performances along with head-to-head competition during the regular season and in major postseason meets.

The honorees are divided based on event. Follow the links below for each group; athletes are listed alphabetically. Races in meters unless noted. Field events are listed in feet and inches.

Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year: Sydney McLaughlin, Union Catholic

Girls Track & Field Coach of the Year: Brian Fitzgerald, Rio Mesa

Sprints

Long Sprints and Middle Distance

Distances

Hurdles

Throws

Jumps

RELATED: 2015-16 ALL-USA Preseason Boy Track & Field Teams

LOOKBACK: 2014-15 ALL-USA Boys Track and Field Teams

The ALL-USA Teams are coordinated by Fred Baer, founder, Track and Field Writers of America.  Girls selections by Mike Kennedy, high school editor of Track and Field News.

ALL-USA Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year: Sydney McLaughlin (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

Sydney McLaughlin of Union Catholic (Scotch Plains, N.J.) has been named the 2015-16 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

MORE:  

Girls Track & Field Coach of the Year: Brian Fitzgerald, Rio Mesa

Sprints

Long Sprints and Middle Distance

Distances

Hurdles

Throws

Jumps

ATHLETE PROFILE:

Sydney McLaughlin
School: Union Catholic (Scotch Plains, N.J.)
Year: Senior
Events: 400 Hurdles

Highlights: Sydney McLaughlin has spent the last few weeks rewriting the 400 meter hurdles record book—not just for high school performers but for all teenagers worldwide. The 16-year-old, who just finished her junior year at Union Catholic (Scotch Plains, N.J.), became the youngest athlete to make the U.S. Olympic track and field team since 1976 when she finished third at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in 54.18 seconds July 10 in Eugene, Ore., setting a World Junior (under age 20) record. She is the 2016 American Family Insurance ALL-USA girls high school track and field athlete of the year.

“This has to be the icing on the cake,” McLaughlin said after making the Olympic team. “It’s been a very long year and the Trials is stressful. My mind was on finishing the race and eating a cheeseburger.”

In recent weeks the USA has put on the greatest display ever of teenage hurdling, with World Junior records in both international events. At the New Balance Nationals in Greensboro, N.C. on June 19, McLaughlin ran 54.46 seconds to erase the ancient high school record of 55.20, set in 1984 by then-upcoming Olympian Leslie Maxie of Mills (Millbrae, Calif.).

A week later, at the USATF Junior Nationals in Clovis, Calif., McLaughlin won her event in “just” 54.54 (second best ever), while a freshman stole the stage in the 100 meter hurdles. Tia Jones of Walton (Marietta, Ga.) ran 12.84 (with a legal wind) to not only topple the high school record of 12.92 set two years ago by Dior Hall, then a senior at Washington (Denver), but also equal the official World Junior mark set in 1987 (by Aliuska Lopez of Cuba).

Following her Trials race, McLaughlin ranked No. 8 on the overall 2016 world list – headed by Trials winner Dalilah Muhammad at 52.88. Five of those athletes are Americans, plus Janieve Russell of Jamaica (53.96), and three Americans have now been displaced by McLaughlin. She therefore ranked No. 4 among the world’s Olympic qualifiers following the Trials.

“Regardless of what happens in Rio, I made it there and I’m just so thankful for that,” said McLaughlin. ”Just hearing the word Olympics was a dream in the back of my mind. It was never really on my radar until I ran 54 (seconds).”

Teams coordinated by Fred Baer, founder, Track and Field Writers of America. Girls selections by Mike Kennedy, high school editor of Track and Field News.

Criteria included ranking on USA TODAY and Track and Field News national lists and the number of top performances, along with head-to-head competition during the regular season and in major postseason meets.

Kate Murphy (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

MORE:

Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year: Sydney McLaughlin, Union Catholic

Girls Track & Field Coach of the Year: Brian Fitzgerald, Rio Mesa

Sprints

Long Sprints and Middle Distance

Hurdles

Throws

Jumps

Below are the athletes selected in distances (1.500, mile, 3,000, 3,200, 2 mile). Returning ALL-USA selections are denoted with asterisks (*).

HSR indicates all-time U.S. high school record mark.
WJR indicates World Junior (under age 20) record.
w = wind-aided (more than 2.0 meters a second), over the limit for record purposes.
i = performed indoors.

Distances (1,500, mile, 3,000, 3,200, 2-mile)

First Team:

Weini Kelati
School: Heritage (Leesburg, Va.)
Year:  Sophomore
Times and events:  9:19.81, 3,000; 9:53.40, 3,200.

*Kate Murphy
School:  Lake Braddock (Burke, Va.)
Year:  Junior
Times and events:  4:07.21, 1,500; 4:39.47i, mile; 9:10.51, 3,000.

Nevada Mareno
School:  Leesville Road (Raleigh, N.C.)
Year:  Junior
Times and events:  4:18.48, 1,500; 10:00.44, 2-mile.

Katie Rainsberger
School:  Air Academy (USAFA, Colo.)
Year:  Senior
Times and events:  4:12.62, 1,500; 4:36.61i, mile; 9:11.60, 3,000.

TRACKINGS: Murphy won the USATF National Junior 3,000 title by a second, ahead of Rainsberger, as the pair moved into second and third on the all-time high school list — behind the 41-year-old national record of 9:08.6. During the indoor season, Rainsberger had beaten Murphy in the mile at the New Balance Nationals. They will clash again in the 3,000 at this month’s IAAF World Indoor Championships in Poland. Murphy, the high school leader at 1,500 meters this season, made it to the semifinals in that event at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Kelati was the leader in the 3,200, with her 9:53.40 ranking No. 7 on the all-time high school list.

Second team:

Fiona O’Keeffe
School: Davis, Calif.
Year:  Senior
Times and events:  9:21.64, 3,000; 10:05.63, 2-mile; 15:56, 5,000.

Annie Hill
School:  Glacier (Kailspell, Mont.)
Year:  Junior
Times and events:  4:41.52, mile.

Teams coordinated by Fred Baer, founder, Track and Field Writers of America. Girls selections by Mike Kennedy, high school editor of Track and Field News.

Criteria included ranking on USA TODAY and Track and Field News national lists and the number of top performances, along with head-to-head competition during the regular season and in major postseason meets.

Christina Aragon (Photo: James Lang, USA TODAY Sports)

MORE:

Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year: Sydney McLaughlin, Union Catholic

Girls Track & Field Coach of the Year: Brian Fitzgerald, Rio Mesa

Sprints

Distances

Hurdles

Throws

Jumps

Here are the athletes selected in Long Sprints / Middle Distance (400 and 800). Returning ALL-USA selections are denoted with asterisks (*).

HSR indicates all-time U.S. high school record mark.
WJR indicates World Junior (under age 20) record.
w = wind-aided (more than 2.0 meters a second), over the limit for record purposes.
i = performed indoors.

LONG SPRINTS / MIDDLE DISTANCE (400 and 800)

First Team

*Christina Aragon
School: Billings, Mont.
Year:  Senior
Times and events: 2:05.65, 800; 4:09.27, 1,500; 4:43.51, 1,600.

Aaliyah Miller
School:  Boyd (McKinley, Texas)
Year:  Senior
Times and events:  54.62, 400; 2:02.96, 800.

Ruby Stauber
School:  Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.)
Year:  Senior
Times and events: 2:03.43, 800.

*Samantha Watson
School:  Rush-Henrietta (Henrietta, N.Y.)
Year:  Junior
Times and events:  53.21, 400; 2:02.91, 800; 4:22.09, 1,500.

 TRACKINGS:  Reigning World Youth 800 meter champion Watson led Miller and Stauber to the line at this year’s USATF Junior Championships with the three fastest high school times of the season. The top two made the American team for this month’s World Junior Championships.

Watson was undefeated vs. preps this season but failed to advance out of the first round at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Aragon did make it to the 1,500 semifinals at the Trials but could not overcome a veteran American middle distance contingent. Earlier she won the adidas high school Dream Mile and was second in the 1,500 (top high school finisher) at the USATF Junior Nationals.

Second Team

Caitlin Collier
School:  Bolles School (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Year:  Junior
Times and events:  2:04.89, 800.

Ella Donaghu
School:  Grant (Portland, Ore.)
Year:  Senior
Times and events:  4:14.11, 1,500.

Teams coordinated by Fred Baer, founder, Track and Field Writers of America. Girls selections by Mike Kennedy, high school editor of Track and Field News.

Criteria included ranking on USA TODAY and Track and Field News national lists and the number of top performances, along with head-to-head competition during the regular season and in major postseason meets.

Anna Cockrell (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

MORE:

Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year: Sydney McLaughlin, Union Catholic

Girls Track & Field Coach of the Year: Brian Fitzgerald, Rio Mesa

Sprints

Long Sprints and Middle Distance

Distances

Throws

Jumps

Here are the athletes selected in Hurdles (110, 300, 400). Returning ALL-USA selections are denoted with asterisks (*).

HSR indicates all-time U.S. high school record mark.
WJR indicates World Junior (under age 20) record.
w = wind-aided (more than 2.0 meters a second), over the limit for record purposes.
i = performed indoors.

Hurdles (110, 300, 400)

First Team:

*Anna Cockrell
School:  Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.)
Year:  Senior
Times and events:  13.17, 100H; 40.42, 300H; 55.89, 400H.

Alexis Duncan
School:  DeSoto, Texas
Year:  Senior
Times and events:  13.04, 100H; 41.20, 300H.

 *Tia Jones
School:  Walton (Marietta, Ga.)
Year:  Freshman
Times and events:  HSR, WJR, 12.84, 100H.

*Sydney McLaughlin
School:  Union Catholic (Scotch Plains, N.J.)
Year:  Junior
Times and events:  HSR, WJR 54.15, 400H; 51.84i, 400.

TRACKINGS: The USA’s strongest women’s event on the world’s stage is the 100 hurdles. Freshman Jones ran 12.84 to smash the high school 100 hurdles record in the semifinals at the USATF Junior Championships but then finished second in the finals to Duncan’s 13.04 (No. 6 all-time) – with both making the U.S. team for the IAAF World Junior Championships.

McLaughlin, in addition to her 400 hurdle records described above, had the fastest 400 meter time this year, 51.84, run indoors.

Cockrell was the best combo hurdler, with bests of 13.17 (100 hurdles) that ranks equal-tenth on the all-time high school list and 55.89 (400 hurdles) to rank No. 4 all-time in finishing second to McLaughlin at the Junior Nationals. Cockrell also chased McLaughlin through to the Olympics Trials semfinals.

–In any other year Chanel Brissett, who ran 12.95 at the Olympic Trials to rank co-No. 3 all-time in the 100 hurdles, would have been a first team All-USA selection. She had to settle for the second team, however, in this, her junior season at Cheltenham (Wyncote, Pa.).

Second Team:

Chanel Brissett
School:  Cheltenham (Wyncote, Pa.)
Year:  Junior
Times and events:  12.95, 100H.

Brandee’ Johnson
School:  Nansemond River (Suffolk, Va.)
Year:  Senior
Times and events:  13.08, 100H; 56.15, 400H.

Teams coordinated by Fred Baer, founder, Track and Field Writers of America.  Girls selections by Mike Kennedy, high school editor of Track and Field News.

Criteria included ranking on USA TODAY and Track and Field News national lists and the number of top performances, along with head-to-head competition during the regular season and in major postseason meets.

Vashti Cunningham (Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

MORE: 

Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year: Sydney McLaughlin, Union Catholic

Girls Track & Field Coach of the Year: Brian Fitzgerald, Rio Mesa

Sprints

Long Sprints and Middle Distance

Distances

Hurdles

Throws

Here are the athletes selected in Vertical Jumps (high jump, pole vault) and Horizontal Jumps (long jump, triple jump). Returning ALL-USA selections are denoted with asterisks (*).

HSR indicates all-time U.S. high school record mark.
WJR indicates World Junior (under age 20) record.
w = wind-aided (more than 2.0 meters a second), over the limit for record purposes.
i = performed indoors.

Vertical Jumps (high jump, pole vault)

First Team: 

Rachel Baxter
School:  Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.)
Year:  Junior
Height and event:  14-3, PV.

*Vashti Cunningham
School:  Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Year:  Senior
Height and event:  HSR, WJR 6-6 1/4i, HJ.

Carson Dingler
School:  First Presbyterian Day (Macon, Ga.)
Year:  Junior
Height and event:  13-9 1/4, PV.

Lillian Lowe
School:  Callaway (Murray, Ky.)
Year:  Junior
Height and event: 5-10 1/2, HJ.

TRACKINGS: Baxter and Dingler have moved up from the 2015 World Youth team to the 2016 World Junior team in the high jump. Baxter won the USATF Junior Nationals and has a best of 14-3 to rank third on the all-time high school list. Dingler’s best of 13-9 1/4 in finishing second ranks No. 13.

Cunningham had just three meets before turning pro but they included the world-leading 6-6 1/4 that won the U.S. indoor championship and is the highest jump ever by a high schooler.

Second Team

Erika Malispina
School:  Pacific Collegiate (Santa Cruz, Calif.)
Year:  Senior
Height and event:  13-9, PV.

Andrea Willis
School:  Classical Academy (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Year:  Senior
Height and event:  13-9, PV.

Horizontal Jumps (long jump, triple jump)

First Team

Tara Davis
School:  Agoura (Agoura Hills, Calif.)
Year:  Junior
Distance and event:   20-10 3/4i, LJ; 43-2, TJ.

Jasmine Moore
School:  Lakeridge (Mansfield, Texas)
Year:  Freshman
Distance and event:  19-3 1/4, LJ; 42-1 3/4 (43-5 3/4w), TJ.

*Chinne Okoronkwo
School:  Mountlake Terrace, Wash.
Year:  Senior
Distance and events:   19-3 1/4, LJ; 42-2 1/4 (42-7 3/4w), TJ.

Samiyah Samuels
School:  Cypress Springs (Cypress, Texas)
Year:  Senior
Distance and events:    21-1 1/2 (21-3 1/4i), LJ.

TRACKINGS: Samuels was clearly the top long jumper, although she had a limited campaign due to mid-season injuries. She won the New Balance Indoor Nationals at 21-3 1/4 (No.3 on the all-time high school list) and placed second (but was the top prep) at the USATF Junior Nationals.

Okoronkwo was also second at Juniors (first prep) in the triple jump at 42-2 ¼.

Moore had the longest triple jump with her wind-aided 43-5 3/4 to win the New Balance Outdoor Nationals.

Davis was the legal leader in the triple jump at 43-2 (No. 10 all-time) and had a 20-10 3/4 indoor long jump. She was the No. 2 high school finisher in both events at the Junior Nationals. At the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the long jump, Samuels finished 17th and Davis was 19th. Both failed to advance out of the qualifying round.

Second team

Taylor DeLoach
School:  St. Vincent’s Academy (Savannah, Ga.)
Year:  Senior
Distance and event:   20-10 ½, LJ.

Jaimie Robinson
School:  Homewood-Flossmoor(Flossmoor, Il.)
Year:  Junior
Distance and event:  41-10.50, TJ.

Teams coordinated by Fred Baer, founder, Track and Field Writers of America.  Girls selections by Mike Kennedy, high school editor of Track and Field News.

Criteria included ranking on USA TODAY and Track and Field News national lists and the number of top performances, along with head-to-head competition during the regular season and in major postseason meets.

Alyssa Wilson (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

MORE: 

Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year: Sydney McLaughlin, Union Catholic

Girls Track & Field Coach of the Year: Brian Fitzgerald, Rio Mesa

Sprints

Long Sprints and Middle Distance

Distances

Hurdles

Jumps

Here are the athletes selected in throws (shot put, discus, hammer, javelin). Returning ALL-USA selections are denoted with asterisks (*).

i = performed indoors.

Throws (shot put, discus, hammer, javelin)

First team:

Elena Bruckner
School:  Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.)
Year:  Senior
Distance and event:   54-7, SP; 186-10, DT.

Katelyn Gochenour
School:  Marian (Omaha, Neb.)
Year:  Senior
Distance and event:  171-1, JT.

Kiana Phelps
School:  Kingsley-Pierson (Kingsley, Ia.)
Year:  Senior
Distance and event:  48-10, SP; 176-9, DT

Alyssa Wilson
School:  Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.)
Year:  Junior
Distance and event:  55-9 1/4, SP; 175-1, DT; 191-2, HT.

TRACKINGS: Wilson had the No. 2 all-time high school shot put, 55-9 1/4, to win the New Balance Nationals and ranked No. 2 this season with both the discus and hammer.

Bruckner dominated the discus at 186-10 (No. 4 all-time) and was the USATF Junior National champion, ahead of Phelps. Bruckner finished 16th at the U.S. Olympic Trials. She repeated as California (CIF) state high school shot put champion and was No. 2 in that event on the high school outdoor season list.

Gochenour was the Junior National javelin champion and also won the New Balance Nationals.

Second team:

*Nickolette Dunbar
School:  Whippany Park (Whippany, N.J.)
Year:  Senior
Distance and event:  52-7 3/4 (54-7 1/2i), SP.

Joy McArthur
School:  Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Year:  Junior
Distance and event:  203-8, HT.

The ALL-USA teams are coordinated by Fred Baer, founder, Track and Field Writers of America. Girls selections by Mike Kennedy, high school editor of Track and Field News.

Brian Fitzgerald (Photo: Lauri Scott)

Brian FitzGerald of Rio Mesa (Oxnard, Calif.) has been named the 2015-16 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year.

MORE:

Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year: Sydney McLaughlin, Union Catholic

Sprints

Long Sprints and Middle Distance

Distances

Hurdles

Throws

Jumps

COACH PROFILE:

Name:  Brian FitzGerald
School:  Rio Mesa (Oxnard, Calif.)

In 36 years coaching track and field at Rio Mesa, Brian FitzGerald has produced some of the USA’s top athletes, including two former athletes of the year in sprinters Marion Jones and Angela Burnham.

His latest elite sprinter is Zaria Francis, who jumped onto the all-time top 20 high school list in the 100 meters as a junior last year and was an ALL-USA selection. She was the California (CIF) state champion at both 100 and 200 meters (repeating a feat formerly accomplished by Burnham and Jones). This year Francis won the 60 meters at the New Balance Indoor Nationals.

Burnham, who won five state titles (including 100 and 200 doubles in 1988 and 1989), helped the Spartans win a state championship in 1988. Jones was a double 100 and 200 state winner for Rio Mesa in both 1990 and 1991.

FitzGerald, 59, has spent practically his entire life at Rio Mesa, competing there as an all-league football player and track athlete and graduating in 1975. His college degrees are from UCLA.

Although he formally retired in June, FitzGerald plans to continue serving on the CIF Southern Section track and field committee.

Zach Brown, once ranked as one of the top prospects in the class of 2017 before running into legal troubles, has committed to St. John’s.

Once a Connecticut commit, Brown was arrested in May on armed robbery charges in Miami. It has been reported, however, that at least some of those charges have been dropped.

Brown returned to South Florida after a brief stint at Putnam Science in Connecticut in February. According to the Hartford Courant, Brown was asked to leave the school after an on-court altercation with opposing players.

As it stands, though, Brown is set to play for Chris Mullin and the Red Storm. The 7-1 center once held a host of offers from big-time programs, but it’s unclear if their recruitment ceased after the robbery charge.

As chronicled by USA TODAY High School Sports, Brown grew up in poverty and was living in the Liberty City section of Miami before he was adopted by Michael Lipman in 2013. The court had taken Brown and his brother away from their biological mother and their aunt, who was given custody, eventually said she was no longer willing to raise them.

“They come from the most horrific situation you could imagine,” Lipman said of Zach and his brother. “The judge said he had never seen a worse case.”

Michael Porter Jr. (Photo: USA Basketball)

Team USA’s U18 boys team has had little trouble so far at the FIBA Americas Championship in Chile, locking up Group B and winning by an average margin of 32 points per game.

On Thursday, the Americans blew out host nation Chile 70-50.

Chile was extremely tough and aggressive tonight,” coach Shaka Smart said. “I thought they played great in front of their home crowd. They played with a lot passion early, and when we had defensive breakdowns, they made us pay by making shots. I thought our guys did a really good job in the second half of playing with more energy and more connectivity on the defensive end. We were able to force more stops.”

Before dispatching Chile, the Americans stomped Puerto Rico (103-70) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (107-63).

Team USA has been led in scoring by recent Washington commit Michael Porter Jr., who is averaging 15.7 points per game. Markelle Fultz, a UW signee, is the only other player averaging double figures at 12 points per game.

Jarrett Allen, who will play next season at Texas under Smart, leads the team in rebounding at nine a game.

Team USA next plays Friday night at 8 p.m. EST in the semifinals against Brazil, who was 2-1 in its group stage.

(Photo: 247Sports.com)

Nadarius Fagan, a three-star linebacker from Southridge High in Miami, announced on Sunday his commitment to Syracuse.

What’s interesting, though, is what drove Fagan to choose Syracuse over the likes of Alabama, LSU, Nebraska, Southern Cal, and Louisville.

“It was the right time because I’ll be an early enrollee,” Fagan told Syracuse.com. “It was a great decision because I love drama and that’s what they have.”

That’s right. Part of the reason Fagan chose the Orange over the traditional powers was on the strength of Syracuse’s drama program. He cited the coaching staff’s willingness to balance drama and football, as Fagan plans to either go into acting or announcing when he graduates.

Aside from being able to improve his acting abilities, Fagan cited his relationship with Syracsue defensive backs coach Craig Monroe as a major influence.

“Coach Monroe did a great job of recruiting me,” Fagan told 247Sports.com. “He kept it real with me the whole process. That’s what I was looking for. He was honest.”

Check out highlights from his junior season:

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Tray Bishop, a four-star ATH/quarterback from Terrell County (Dawson, Ga.), committed to Auburn Monday. He’s expected to get a shot to play quarterback for the Tigers.

“Breaking it down with my top three, Auburn topped the list with their honesty and my relationship with the coaches — and the playing time I could get my freshman year,” Bishop told AuburnUndercover.com.

Bishop, who also plays basketball and baseball, has grown close with former Tigers QB Nick Marshall, who told him that he would thrive in Malzahn’s offense.

Auburn got more good news Sunday, with the commitment of ATH Stephen Davis Jr.

The three-star will be part of Auburn’s 2016 class. He’s the son of former Tigers legend Stephen Davis.

San Clemente (Calif.) QB Jack Sears, one of the top uncommitted quarterbacks in the class of 2017, said last month he planned to reach a decision sometime in July. Well, July’s almost over.

According to Scout, Sears is sticking with that July decision date, and it may be a three-horse race between Duke, Southern Cal, and UCLA.

RELATED: After Tate Martell commitment, looking at 2017 quarterback recruiting landscape

“For me, I’m looking for the best fit and how I see myself in their offense,” Sears said last month. “Everyone has something different to offer. A lot of them run similar offenses, so it’s more the coaching staff and how I see myself there.”

Sears apparently got along swimmingly with the coaching staff in Durham, and Duke head coach David Cutcliffe is a noted quarterback guru. As noted by Scout, new UCLA QB coach Marques Tuiasosopo has built a solid relationship with Sears, and USC coach Clay Helton has given him plenty of attention, as well.

Well, this is a new one.

That’s Graham Tews of Ogden (Iowa) High straight-stealing home. A couple things of note here: 1) I very much hope the batter was aware of this, which I assume he was, because a swing here could have been bad, and 2) since he did probably know, his staying in the box was genius, as it didn’t tip anyone off—namely the lefty pitcher—that Tews was coming.

Ogden lost to Collins-Maxwell/Baxter 6-1, but the 1 was pretty cool.

Thanks to our friends at For The Win for bringing this to our attention

Penn State coach James Franklin knows he will often be in a position to answer tough questions. That’s the nature of being a college football head coach.

But Franklin also knows that, as head coach of Penn State, he is in a uniquely difficult position.

Franklin, speaking Monday at Big 10 media days, discussed the phenomenon of negative recruiting, something that potentially affects his program more than any other in the country.

“Negative recruiting happens all over the country, everybody is dealing with it,” Franklin said, according to PennLive.com. “Obviously, for us, there’s some sensitive subjects out there. Some people choose to use it and some people don’t.”

The “sensitive subjects” Franklin refers to, obviously, is the Jerry Sandusky scandal that has plagued the Nittany Lions program for the past several years.

“It’s kind of a unique situation, because you’re having conversations about things that you, your staff, your players have nothing to do with and happened over 40 years ago,” Franklin said.

“What we’re there to do is to try to talk about Penn State, focus on all the wonderful opportunities that Penn State offers — academically, athletically, socially, spiritually, those types of things — but also be able to answer the tough questions. We’re probably in a position where we probably have to answer more tough questions than maybe any program in the country.”

This is probably true. But, as Franklin notes, it happens everywhere, and, in some ways, it comes with the territory. Still, he concedes that there must be a line in the sand.

“I do think there’s a line you do not cross. But I guess, in some ways, that’s the nature of the beast. Some people are going to look for weaknesses and try to take advantage of those. But to me there is a line you do not cross.”

It’s no secret that every high school football player’s dream is to one day suit up for an NFL team. Now, thanks to the Dallas Cowboys new practice facility The Star in Frisco, Texas, area high school players will be able to see first-hand what that would be like.

USA TODAY Sports took a sneak peek at the $1.5 billion headquarters last week. The facility will be the only of its kind where an NFL team shares with a public high school athletic program. It includes a 12,000-seat indoor stadium.

“The vision here is to really revolutionize sports on a global level,” Jerry Jones Jr. said. “We have a situation here with what we’ve done with the school district that right there, as a high school player is walking on the field to train and compete, he walks off the field and there comes a Dallas Cowboys player, a world-class athlete, training on the very field where they were competing. It’s a dynamic that’s never been done in sports.”

To speak to that, The Star will host a quadruple-header at the end of August between all eight Frisco high school teams.

“As impressive as the structure is that we sit in, I think the thing he would be most proud of is the connection to high school football,”Charlotte Jones Anderson, Jones’ daughter and a team executive vice president, said of her father.

“I think deep down, knowing that he had a chance to leave a legacy on high school football, to build something for those kids that have dreams, that here was our opportunity to do this for the kids and to do this for that connection that we should all appreciate of, where does our game live? And it lives in the hearts of the kids who want to be a Dallas Cowboy, and this is a tribute to that.”

Terrance Ferguson, the one-time Arizona signee, opted last month to play professionally in Australia rather than collegiately for the Wildcats. It appears he’s looking forward to the upcoming experience with the Adelaide 36ers.

The 36ers are pumped, too.

Ferguson explained in a post on The Players Tribune why he decided to take his talents to the land down under, citing both the financial opportunity and the potential to develop as a player.

He also appears to be excited about the weather, regardless of people on his Twitter feed trying to bring him down.