Queen Creek High School Track Athlete Named Gatorade Player of the Year

The record-breaking track and field athlete Catherine Littlewood has been announced as the Gatorade Arizona Girls Track & Field Player of the Year. Littlewood is the first track & field player from Queen Creek High School to receive this recognition.

Gatorade Players of the Year are selected for outstanding achievement and character both on and off the field. Only one athlete in each sport is chosen from each state.

After returning from foot surgery in March 2023, Littlewood set a state-record on the long jump after leaping 20 feet, 7 inches at the inaugural open state final. Littlewood then went on to win the state heptathlon title, scoring 5,419 points over seven athletic events. She has also earned All-American honors at Nike Outdoor Nationals in these two events.

Outside of athletics, she has demonstrated academic excellence through maintaining a 4.46 weighted GPA, participating in the Queen Creek High School National Honor Society, and volunteering with local organizations. Littlewood will be attending Stanford in the fall and will be competing in track & field on scholarship.

Littlewood is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Player of the Year award to be announced in July.