Maximo Zavaleta from Martin Luther King High School was awarded California's Gatorade Player of the Year after an historic season in the shot put and discus. Read more HERE
| Year | Name | School | Event |
| 2026 | Maximo Zavaleta | Martin Luther King | Distance |
| 2025 | McKay Madsen | Clovis North High School | Throws |
| 2024 | Brandon Arrington | Mount Miguel | Sprints |
| 2023 | Rodrick Pleasant | Serra High School | Sprints |
| 2022 | Colin Sahlman | Newbury Park | Distance |
| 2021 | Colin Sahlman | Newbury Park | Distance |
| 2020 | Nico Young | Newbury Park | Distance |
| 2019 | Kenan Christon | Madison High School | Sprints |
| 2018 | Sondre Guttormsen | Davis High School | Pole Vault |
| 2017 | Joseph Anderson | Upland High School | Hurdles |
| 2016 | Michael Norman | Vista Murrieta | Sprints |
| 2015 | Michael Norman | Vista Murrieta | Sprints |
| 2014 | Nate Moore | Castro Valley High School | Sprints / Jumps |
| 2013 | Khalfani Muhammad | Notre Dame High School | Sprints |
| 2012 | Darren Fahy | La Costa Canyon | Distance |
| 2011 | Remontay McClain | Covina High School | Sprints |
| 2010 | Sean Krinik | Valencia High School | Mid-Distance |
| 2009 | Mac Fleet | University City | Distance |
| 2008 | German Fernandez | Riverbank High School | Distance |
| 2007 | Bryshon Nellum | Long Beach Poly | Sprints |
| 2006 | David Klech | California High School | Hurdles / Jumps |
| 2005 | David Klech | California High School | Hurdles / Jumps |
| 2004 | Kevin Craddock | James Logan High School | Hurdles / Sprints |
| 2003 | Duane Solomon | Cabrillo High School | Mid-Distance |
| 2002 | Matthew Bruno | Trabuco Hills | Sprints |
| 2001 | Ryan Hall | Big Bear High School | Distance |
| 2000 | Ryan Hall | Big Bear High School | Distance |
| 1999 | Kareem Kelly | Long Beach Poly | Sprints |
| 1998 | Jon Stevens | Mission San Jose | Distance |
| 1997 | Sultan McCullough | John Muir High School | Sprints |
| 1996 | Michael Granville | Bell Gardens | Mid-Distance |
| 1995 | Michael Stember | Jesuit High School | Distance |
| 1994 | Mebrahtom Keflezighi | San Diego High School | Distance |
| 1993 | Brian Wilkerson | Merced High School | Distacne |
| 1992 | Jeff Buckey | Bakersfield High School | Throws |
| 1991 | Ricky Carrigan | Compton High School | Sprints |
| 1990 | Ricky Carrigan | Compton High School | Sprints |
| 1989 | James Stallworth | Tulare High School | Jumps / Sprints |
| 1988 | Reggie Williams | River City High School | Distacne |
| 1987 | Quincy Watts | Taft High School | Sprints |
| 1986 | Eric Mastalir | Jesuit High School | Distacne |
Stats
Here's a look at the numbers behind four decades of California Gatorade Track & Field Player of the Year history.
Schools With Multiple Winners
| School | Awards |
|---|---|
| Newbury Park | 3 (Colin Sahlman x2, Nico Young x1) |
| California High School | 2 (David Klech x2) |
| Vista Murrieta | 2 (Michael Norman x2) |
| Long Beach Poly | 2 (Bryshon Nellum, Kareem Kelly) |
| Jesuit High School | 2 (Eric Mastalir, Michael Stember) |
| Compton High School | 2 (Ricky Carrigan x2) |
By Event Specialty
| Event Group | Awards |
|---|---|
| Distance | 15 |
| Sprints (including sprint combinations) | 17 |
| Mid-Distance | 3 |
| Hurdles (primary or combined) | 4 |
| Throws | 2 |
| Jumps (primary or combined) | 4 |
| Pole Vault | 1 |
CA Gatorade Player of the Year to Olympian
- Michael Norman (2020, 2024)
- Ryan Hall (2008)
- Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi (2000, 2004, 2012)
- Duane Solomon (2012)
- Quincy Watts (1992)
- Bryshon Nellum (2012)
- Nico Young (2024)