Several Central Floridia runners were up for a Sporty Award on Saturday. The Sporty's were put on by the Central Florida Sports Commission and took place at Full Sail University. The event honored athletes in several categories including High School Athlete of the Year, College Athlete of the Year, and Professional Athlete of the Year.
In the high school category, Colonial senior Andres Arroyo was one of three nominees. In his junior year, Arroyo won the 4A Cross Country Finals as an individual and helped lead Colonial to their first team title in school history. He followed up that performance by winning three state titles during the outdoor track season capturing gold in the 4x800 meter relay, 1600 meter run, and 3200 meter run. The award went to Edgewater basketball star Alexis Prince, but Arroyo said before the event he was just honored to be nominated.
The University of Central Florida had a two out of three chance winning in the college category. Junior sprinter Aurieyall Scott and freshman sprinter Octavious Freeman were both nominated for the award. in 2012, as a sophomore, Scott was a two-time All-American outdoors and Conference USA champion for the Knights. She advanced to the finals of the 200 meters at the Olympic Trials. Freeman, the freshman from Lake Wales, was one of the most decorated sprinters coming out of high school and shocked many people when she decided to stay at home and sign with the Knights. As a freshman, she was a two-time indoor and outdoor All-American, and won multiple C-USA championships in both seasons. Freeman picked up the Sporty for one of the best all-around seasons in college track and field. Octavious said afterward that all the hard work had paid off.
Tyson Gay was one of three nominees in the Professional Athlete of the Year category. Gay finished fourth in the 100 meters at the 2012 Olympics and was on the silver medal 4x100 meter relay team. Despite those accolades the award went to Spruce Creek alumni and Olympian Ryan Lochte. Neither Gay nor Lochte attended the event.