Jul. 3—Schuylkill Valley’s Ashlyn Giles, who won PIAA Class 2A gold medals in the shot put and discus, was named Friday as the Gatorade Pennsylvania Female Player of the Year for track and field.
Giles set Berks County records of 49-5 in the shot put and 169-2 in the discus during a memorable senior season.
“It’s beyond what I could have imagined,” Giles said after winning her two state titles. “I wanted to get better. I wanted to be the best I could be.”
The Gatorade award recognizes the nation’s elite high school athletes for athletic excellence, high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character.
Gatorade will donate $1,000 to a sports-based organization of Giles’ choosing. With the state recognition, she becomes eligible for the national award that will be presented later this month.