St. Johnsbury track and field star joins brother as Gatorade award winner

St. Johnsbury Academy's Andrew Thornton-Sherman has been selected as Vermont's top high school boys track and field athlete for the 2024 season, Gatorade announced Thursday morning.

Thornton-Sherman is the fifth athlete, and second family member, in program history to receive the award, which recognizes outstanding athletic excellence, high academic achievement and exemplary character. Thornton-Sherman's brother, Evan, was the Gatorade winner two years ago.

The 5-foot-7, 140-pound junior lowered his 800-meter state record multiple times this spring, while seizing Division I state titles in the 1,500 and 300 hurdles to help the St. Johnsbury to a fourth straight team championship earlier this month. He also ran the anchor leg on the winning 4x400 relay squad.

Thornton-Sherman’s winning time of 3:54.67 in the 1,500 ranked No. 11 nationally among prep competitors this spring. He also reset his 800 state mark at New Englands, where he finished second overall, and again at New Balance Nationals with a time of 1:50.64.

Thornton-Sherman is the 12th Gatorade honoree to be coached by the late Arlan "Chip" Langmaid, who presided over the St. Johnsbury boys and girls track and cross country programs for 35 years before passing away earlier this month.

The class president at his school, Thornton-Sherman is also president of the Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability committee and heads the National Honor Society chapter’s environmental committee. A certified lifeguard, he has volunteered locally at Cottage Hospital in Woodsville, New Hampshire, and as a youth track coach, the Gatorade news release said.

:Andrew is such a force in everything he does," Essex coach Katie White said in a statement. "He’s a teammate you want to have because he will sacrifice his personal gain for the betterment of the team. Andrew has tenacity and you know when he steps on the line, he’s going to go hard and make it a race."

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Thornton-Sherman has maintained an A average in the classroom. He will begin his senior year of high school this fall.

As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every player of the year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner.

To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.

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Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.