Sahlman caps memorable season highlighted by California Division 1 state title and all-time national 5-kilometer performance of 14:03.29 at Garming RunningLane Championships by joining 2020 recipient Nico Young as only teammates in award’s prestigious history to both be selected

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Even after being featured running on the beach in a recent Gatorade commercial, Colin Sahlman was still surprised Wednesday when he was highlighted once more by the global brand with the presentation of one of the most prestigious awards in prep sports.

But there was no mystery when it came to why the senior at Newbury Park High in California was honored as the Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Player of the Year.

COLIN SAHLMAN GATORADE VIDEO ANNOUNCEMENT

Following a season that culminated Dec. 4 with Sahlman achieving the fastest 5-kilometer cross country time by a male athlete in U.S. prep history by clocking 14 minutes, 3.29 seconds at the Garmin RunningLane Championships at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala., the Northern Arizona commit was an easy choice to receive the award.

“It’s super cool. I’m super fortunate that Gatorade reached out for that commercial, and now with them coming for the player of the year, it’s incredible,” Sahlman said. “When I was holding that trophy and you look at the names, those are great names, and there are great names like LeBron James in basketball, and he’s a huge deal, and even now, he is still the guy, and to see my name next to his, it’s really crazy because his name is on there forever and now my name is on there forever. It’s great and it’s awesome to think about.”

Sahlman, who captured the California Division 1 state title Nov. 27 by running 14:26.5 on the 5-kilometer layout at Woodward Park in Fresno for the second-fastest performance in course history, made additional history Wednesday with the Gatorade recognition.

He and 2020 Gatorade cross country national boys honoree Nico Young became the first teammates in the history of the prestigious award to both be selected. In addition, Sahlman became the third California male winner in the past four years, along with Liam Anderson from Larkspur Redwood in 2019.

“That’s super special because it’s something that is really unheard of with two teammates getting it,” Sahlman said. “But I think with what we do here at Newbury Park, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are three teammates, with (the award) next year, and that would be even more history, and it would be super special to be part of that.”

In addition to his younger brother Aaron Sahlman, junior twins Leo Young and Lex Young are also returning next year for Newbury Park. They all followed Colin Sahlman to sweep the top four spots at the Division 1 state championship meet, with Leo Young running 14:05.07, Lex Young clocking 14:05.49 and Aaron Sahlman producing a mark of 14:14.38 to all place in the top six at the RunningLane Championships.

“RunningLane was definitely the moment for that, when people were like, ‘Dathan Ritzenhein’s (national) record of 14:10, it’s still not going to be touched, and we put three guys under that, with Aaron four seconds behind that. So it’s like, OK, if you tell us we can’t, then we are going to do it,’” Sahlman said. “We don’t set limitations and we don’t set barriers. And in our minds, if there is a barrier, we’re going to go after it. We’re going to make the new barrier.”

Sahlman has also put himself in strong contention to match Nico Young’s memorable achievement by also earning the Gatorade National Boys Track and Field Player of the Year award later this summer, following a 3:58.81 mile Feb. 5 at the Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia Challenge at The Armory in New York and an 8:33.32 effort Feb. 19 at the Sundown Track Series at Azusa Pacific University to produce the fastest time in a 3,200-meter race by a U.S. prep athlete.

“It’s really weird to think about because I remember being in that crowd as Nico walked in and we were all cheering,” Sahlman said. “Now, to be Nico’s shoes and to walk into the gym and to have everyone cheering for me because I remember thinking when Nico won, ‘This is awesome, this is a huge deal, this is Gatorade we’re talking about and he’s getting this prestigious award.’ I kind of wanted to do that after seeing Nico do that, so that really motivated me to be like Nico was, and now that it’s happened. It’s really crazy and it feels like a huge accomplishment.”

Sahlman, who will join Nico Young in the fall at Northern Arizona, boasts a 3.47 grade-point average, in addition to volunteering locally by feeding the homeless representing St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church. He has also devoted time as a coach for the Camarillo Cosmos Youth Track Program, along with serving as a counselor at the Mile High Running Camp in Big Bear during his high school career.

“I strive to do the best that I can anywhere in anything that I do, even outside of the sport,” Sahlman said. “That’s kind of my mindset. Even in school, you still have to work hard. I don’t work hard just in running and training, I also work hard in the classroom to be the best student I can be. This has been a great experience and it’s super amazing and super special.”