Catherine Littlewood of Queen Creek High School has been named the Gatorade Arizona Girls Track & Field Player of the Year. She is the first track and field player from Queen Creek High to receive this recognition.

Gatorade Players of the Year are selected for outstanding achievement and character both on and off the field, according to a press release from the Queen Creek Unified School District. Only one athlete in each sport is chosen from each state.

Upon returning from foot surgery in March, Littlewood set a state-record in the long jump after leaping 20 feet, 7 inches at the inaugural open state final. Littlewood then went on to win the state heptathlon title, scoring 5,419 points over seven athletic events. She has also earned All-American honors at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in the long jump and heptathlon.

As a student, she maintained a 4.46 weighted GPA, participated in the Queen Creek High School National Honor Society and volunteered with local organizations, the release stated.

In the fall she will be attending Stanford University with a track and field scholarship.

Littlewood is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Player of the Year award which will be announced this month.