Pocatello’s Elijah Armstrong entered elite territory when he was selected as the Gatorade Boys track and Field Athlete of the Year on Friday.

Armstrong became the seventh prep athlete in Idaho history to earn the honor in multiple sports. He took home the Gatorade award for cross country three times from 2012-14 and won it for the first time in track and field.

“To get the track one I think has a little more emphasis on it because there’s a lot of Idaho guys who (are) pretty premier track stars,” Armstrong said. “So to get it for Idaho I think is just an honor in and of itself.”

Armstrong won 4A state titles in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter races at May’s state track and field championships to give him 13 gold medals between track and cross country in his high school career. He signed his National Letter of Intent to compete in both sports at Boise State University.

Boise’s Emily Hamlin also won the Gatorade accolade in cross country and track for the 2014-15 school year, the sixth Idaho athlete to collect the award in multiple sports.

Other prep athletes from Idaho to win the Gatorade Player of the Year award in multiple sports are: Boise’s Eric Fitzpatrick, 2008 (cross country, track and field); Moscow’s Heather Owen, 1993-94 (basketball, track and field); Leadore’s Hollie Tyler, 2001 (basketball, track and field); Eagle’s Liz Brandon, 2009 (cross country, track and field); and Borah’s Nicole Nielsen, 2007-08 (cross country, track and field).

Armstrong is the first male from Pocatello High School to win the track and field Gatorade award. Former Poky Indian Maureen Griffin earned the girls track and field honor in 1997 and 98.

Gatorade handed out awards to four Gate City athletes during the academic year: Armstrong, Highland football player Tristen Hoge, Century volleyball player Kayla Ellis and Highland boys basketball player Stefan Gonzalez. All four signed letters of intent to play at Division I universities.

Armstrong is now eligible to win the Gatorade National Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year award. One Idaho athlete has ever earned the national honor: Boise soccer player John Gwin in 1987.

A Gatorade press release can be found here: http://www.gatorade.com/poy/profile.aspx?id=16032