The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Gonzalez as New Mexico's best high school boys track & field athlete. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Player of the Year award to be announced in July, Gonzalez joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Lolo Jones (1997-98, Roosevelt High School, Iowa), Allyson Felix (2002-03, Los Angeles Baptist High School, Calif.), Robert Griffin III (2006-07, Copperas Cove High School, Texas), Grant Fisher (2014-15 & 2013-14, Grand Blanc High School, Mich.) and Candace Hill (2014-15, Rockdale County High School, Ga.).

Gonzalez has maintained a weighted 3.34 GPA in the classroom. He will attend school and participate in track and field at Pima Community College this fall.

Gonzalez has volunteered mentoring special needs students at the Sycamore Community Center and has donated his time coaching middle school track athletes with their jumps technique. "Kayden is a class act student-athlete and teammate," said Farmington head coach Jeff Dalton. "He always has a positive attitude." - Gatorade