Abbott boys track athlete of the year

Appeal Staff Report

Galena's Joe Abbott has been named as the 2007-2008 Nevada State Boys Track Athlete of the Year.

The award, which is presented with Gatorade along with RISE Magazine, recognizes Abbott for their athletic and academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the track. Abbott is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Boys Track Athlete of the Year Award, which will be announced later this month.

Abbott won the 800 and 1,600 meter runs at this past spring's NIAA 4A State Championships to help lead the Grizzlies to a second place finish as a team. Abbott won the 800 in a state meet record time of 1 minute, 50.78 seconds and the 1,600 in 4:22.18.

Abbott ended up with three titles at state as he also ran on Galena's winning 4x800 relay team, which finished in 8:01.22. In addition, he finished second in the 400 in 48.33.

A member of the student council, Abbott maintained a 3.54 grade point average and volunteers on behalf of the City of Reno's Harvest Festival, coordinating activities for underprivileged youths.

Abbott, who will run at Washington State, also took sixth in last fall's NIAA 4A State Cross Country Championships to help the Grizzlies take the overall title.

"He is a very special guy," Galena track coach Domingo Tibaduiza said. "There's no question about it. When you have the talent, range and ability he has, you're pretty special. He's an all-around athlete.

Somehow, we enticed him to run cross country and try his luck at track. Once he made a commitment to the program, there's no looking back. That shows his loyalty, and that shows determination, He has the intensity, desire and work ethic like I have never seen before. He was the heart and soul of the track team."