Jun 28, 2023

Jaiya Daniels

(June 28, 2023) - In its 38th year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Jaiya Daniels of Los Alamos High School is the 2022-23 Gatorade New Mexico Girls Track & Field Player of the Year. Daniels is the fourth Gatorade New Mexico Girls Track & Field Player of the Year to be chosen from Los Alamos High School.

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 Daniels as New Mexico's best high school girls track & field athlete. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Player of the Year award to be announced in July, Daniels joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Jasmine Moore (2018-19, Lake Ridge High School, Texas), Sydney McLaughlin (2016-17, 2015-16 & 2014-15, Union Catholic High School, N.J.), and Lolo Jones (1997-98, Roosevelt High School, Iowa).

The 5-foot-6 sophomore won the 100- and 200-meter dash, the latter in a personal-best 24.64 seconds, and captured the triple jump title at the Class 4A state meet, leading the Hilltoppers to the team title this past season. Daniels also leaped to a fourth-place finish in the triple jump at the Great Southwest Classic with a distance of 39- 0.5 in addition to competing in all three events at Nike Outdoor Nationals. She ran legs on the fastest 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relay quartets in the state in 2023. Daniels led Black and Women's History initiatives at Los Alamos, collaborating with school administrators to actively encourage involvement from students of color to support month-long activities and information sharing. She also participated in "Sista Circle," a two-week symposium focused on empowering the voices of young women and equipping them with the confidence and tools to create positive community change. Daniels also produced an award-winning short film, "Sister of the Circle," detailing her journey and growth as a Black girl being raised in New Mexico, which won best documentary among 93 student films as part of the Film Prize Junior New Mexico annual film festival.

Daniels has maintained a B average in the classroom. She will begin her junior year of high school this fall.