LOS ANGELES – Quarterback Matt Barkley, headed to Southern California's campus in 2009, and middle distance runner Chanelle Price, a Tennessee recruit, were honored as national high school athletes of the year Wednesday.
Barkley, a senior-to-be at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana, is the second football player to win since the honor went national in 2003, joining Greg Paulus in 2005.
Price, who wrapped up her career at Easton (Pa.) Area High, is the first female track and field winner since world champion sprinter Allyson Felix in 2003.
Barkley received his award from former USC star Matt Leinart and 2006 honoree Greg Oden of the Portland Trail Blazers.
“I'm speechless,” Barkley said, drawing laughter. “It's just so awesome. This is so amazing.”
Barkley threw for 35 touchdowns and 3,576 yards in 11 games last season for Mater Dei, also Leinart's alma mater. He'll follow Leinart in heading to USC, where Leinart was 37-2 as a starter, leading the Trojans to consecutive national championships and winning the Heisman Trophy.
“He's told me some stories about USC and Coach (Pete) Carroll,” Barkley said. “I've been there on campus, so it's not like I'm entering a whole new world.”
Barkley averaged 325 yards and 3.2 touchdowns and was selected a Parade Magazine player of the year in 2007. He owns a 3.77 grade-point average and raises money for families of wounded and fallen Marines.
“He's such a phenomenal kid, just what he does on and off the field,” Leinart said. “The pressure for him is going to be huge. The one thing I can tell Matt is just to remain humble and to work hard. When you get to that level, just like when you get to the NFL level, the guys at every position are just as good. What separates you from those guys is your hard work and dedication off the field.”
Price qualified for the recent U.S. Olympic track and field trials, but didn't advance out of the qualifying heats in her specialty, the 800 meters.
“The Olympic trials wasn't the best way to end the year. I didn't run my fastest time,” she said. “But it was just a great experience. They said I was one of the youngest there.”
Price was fifth in the 800 at last month's Prefontaine Classic, where her time of 2 minutes, 1.61 seconds was the second-fastest in prep history and bettered a mark set by former Olympian Mary Decker.
“I want to become a professional runner. I love it,” said Price, who received her trophy from Felix, 2004 winner Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks and retired soccer star Mia Hamm.
Felix, a two-time world champion in the 200, is headed to next month's Beijing Olympics, where Price will be watching her and the 800 runners.
“She said she knows she's going to see me at the next level,” Price said, “and when I get there, just remember to be cool and what is important to me.”
The other girls' nominees were: volleyball player Kelly Murphy of Joliet (Ill.) Catholic; cross country runner Ashley Brasovan of Wellington (Fla.) High; basketball player Nneka Ogwumike of Cy-Fair High in Cypress, Texas; soccer player Teresa Noyola of Palo Alto (Calif.) High; and softball player Kenzie Fowler of Canyon del Oro High in Oro Valley, Ariz.
The other boys' nominees were: cross country runner Chris Derrick of Neuqua Valley High in Naperville, Ill.; soccer player Chris Agorsor of McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Md.; basketball player Jrue Holiday of Campbell Hall High in North Hollywood; baseball player Kyle Skipworth of Patriot High in Riverside; and distance runner German Fernandez of Riverbank (Calif.) High.
Each year, sponsor Gatorade picks national players in football, girls volleyball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, basketball, track and field and cross country. Those winners vie for the two national awards, chosen by a panel of sports media.
