CHICAGO – Gatorade has awarded the Maine High School Boys’ Track & Field Athlete of the Year award to Eric Giddings of South Portland High School.

“Eric is the embodiment of everything one would want in an athlete… outstanding leadership, scholarship, dedication, and ability,” SP coach Paul Brogan said.

Giddings is a member of the National Honor Society and Model UN. He will attend Stanford University (Cal.) in the fall.

The 50 national winners, selected by a panel of sport-specific experts as well as a National Media Advisory Board, were chosen based on their outstanding accomplishments on and off the field of play. In addition to athletic performance, the award’s criteria include the athlete’s achievements in the classroom and overall character.