By Jonathan Tsou
Hundreds of thousands of high school cross country athletes attempt to become the fastest runner in the country. Phillip Rocha, an Arcadia High School senior, has just done it.
Last week, Gatorade announced their 31st year Gatorade Runner of the Year. Phillip was given the award for the state of California and joins the ranks of past Gatorade State Players of the Year, including Alan Webb and Meb Keflezighi. Phillip becomes only the third Cross Country runner from Arcadia High School to receive the honor.
The award is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, which include top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished prep sports journalist. Phillip was selected based on his outstanding athletic achievement, his high standards of academic achievement, and his exemplary character on and off the course.
His award does not come as a surprise. Recently, Phillip Rocha claimed his second consecutive CIF State Division I Cross Country Championships while he set a new Division I Boys’ course record.
Phillip Rocha has also broken numerous track records; including the Stanford Invitational, the Clovis Invitational, and the Mt. Sac Invitational. Phillip placed second at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships and second at the Foot Locker West Regional Championships. Not only that, Phillip represented the United States at the Youth World Cross Country Championships.
Off the track, Phillip has been a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and also volunteered around Arcadia on the behalf of many youths running programs.
Michael Feraco-Eberle, Rocha’s Cross Country Coach, said, “Phillip is an athletic prodigy, and he pairs that prodigious talent with a ferocious will to improve.” Feraco-Eberle also noted that Phillip has taken time to work with younger athletes, and his willingness to share knowledge has become one of the greatest gifts to the team and the school.
Fellow Cross Country Runner Amanda Lam said that, “[Phillip] is always funny and trying to make others laugh.” She also emphasized, “He is not someone to gloat about how fast he is, and is humble about his achievements.”
Although Rocha remains undecided upon a collegiate destination, he has received numerous scholarships from top colleges around the United States.
