Derrick has made a name for himself nationally by placing second at the Foot Locker Cross-Country Championships in San Diego last month. He also led Naperville to the Nike Team Nationals title in Portland, Ore., with a first-place time of 15:39.8. He next will run Jan. 26 in the boys junior invitational mile at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, a USA Track and Field Visa Championship Series meet that has featured Olympic and World Championship medal winners.
The Gatorade award also is based on academics and character. Derrick has maintained a 4.57 grade-point average at Neuqua.
