Kelly named Gatorade Rhode Island athlete of the year

Fresh off her win at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor, senior Annika Kelly (Barrington, RI) was named the 2018-19 Gatorade Rhode Island Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Kelly is the first Gatorade Rhode Island Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Barrington High School. The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the track, distinguishes Kelly as Rhode Island’s best high school girls track and field athlete.

In addition to her New Balance Nationals win, Kelly also has the second best throw in the nation in 2019, and set a Rhode Island state record in May. As a dual citizen of the US and Estonia, she has represented Estonia in international competition, including the Youth Olympic Games in 2018. Academically she is a national merit scholar finalist and will attend Princeton University.

In announcing the award, Classical High School head coach Bob Palazzo said “Annika Kelly has had a great season. She was dominant. No one in the state was close.” Kelly is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year award to be announced in June. You can learn more about the award and read the full press release here.