East Central Cross County’s Christian Balcer named Gatorade Player of the Year

East Central’s Christian Balcer has done it again as back-to-back recipient of the Mississippi Gatorade Cross County Runner of the Year.

Just last week, the former News 25 Student Athlete of the Week ran a nine minute 13.11 second, 32-hundred-meter dash, breaking a 20-year-old state record at the Hornet’s district championship meet.

Balcer is running both cross country and track next year for Mississippi College.

Elsewhere in the awards department, Lindy Callahan Scholar-Athletes announced yesterday and we’ve got a couple of Coasties from District 8.

Starting with the girls’ recipient from St. Patrick and that’s Isabel Leatherman who excels in both cross country and track and field.

As for the boys’ recipient, it’s Pass Christian soccer and tennis standout Kyle Foretich, making it three years in a row for a Pass Christian male student to take home the honors.

Through the support of the MHSAA, the 16 winners will receive a $1,500 scholarship.