This year's list brings together a variety of national champions, record-setters and Olympic trialists

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Vote for the DyeStat Boys Performer of the Year below after reviewing this year's nominees

Selections for the DyeStat Boys High School Athlete of the Year bring together a variety of national champions, record-setters and Olympic trialists and it was a tough list to make. Please choose the one you think is most deserving for the top performer of the year.

Reed Brown (Southlake Carroll TX)

He ranked US#6 in both the 1,600 meters (4:04.82) and 3,200 meters (8:50.43) as a junior before winning the Foot Locker cross country title as a senior in the fall.

Darius Carbin (Mt. Pleasant CA)

He made a third-attempt clearance at 7 feet, 4.50 inches to secure the silver medal in the high jump at the U-20 World Championships, tying the California all-time best and moving to No. 8 in prep history.

Casey Clinger (American Fork UT)

He won the Arcadia 3,200 meters (8:50.70) before going on to win Utah state titles in the 1,600 (meet record) and 3,200. In the fall, he became the first male runner to win back-to-back Nike Cross Nationals championships and completed the cross country season ranked No. 1.

Tyrese Cooper (American FL)

The freshman sensation caused a stir wherever he went and was always entertaining. He smashed freshman class records throughout the year and finished with bests of 45.69 seconds in the 400 meters and 20.46w in the 200.

Mondo Duplantis (Lafayette LA)

The pole vaulting sensation had a memorable sophomore year, breaking the indoor high school record (18-0.50) and becoming the ninth prep athlete to clear 18 feet outdoors.

Jordan Geist (Knoch PA)

The junior threw a national-leading 74-4.50 in the shot put, which was good for No. 6 in prep history outdoors. He also won the New Balance Nationals Indoor title.

Great Oak 4x1,600 relay (CA)

The quartet of Solomon Fountain, Cole Spencer, Isaac Cortes and Spencer Dodds broke the 1976 national record held by South Eugene OR by running 16:55.85 at the Arcadia Invitational, then lowering the mark one week later to 16:52.95 at the Mt. SAC Relays.

Drew Hunter (Loudoun Valley VA)

His sensational indoor season included a record-breaking mile (3:57.81) and all-time prep best 3,000 (7:59.33). He ran an epic anchor leg to lift his team to the Penn Relay DMR title and later ran his third sub-four mile of the calendar year at the Prefontaine Classic. He then made more history by forgoing college eligibility and signing a pro contract with adidas.

Noah Lyles (T. C. Williams VA)

He broke the national high school record in the 200 meters in the finals of the U.S. Olympic Trials by running 20.09 seconds. He took the gold medal in the 100 at the U-20 World Championships before signing a contract with adidas to turn pro.

Christopher Nilsen (Park Hill MO)

The senior broke the national high school record in the pole vault with a clearance at 18-4.50 at the Missouri Class 5 Section 4 meet. He later backed that up with an 18-3 vault and a victory over Mondo Duplantis at the Great Southwest Classic.

Michael Norman (Vista Murrieta CA)

A sensational senior season ended with a fifth-place finish in the 200 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials, where he ran 20.14 seconds to tie for No. 3 all-time, followed by the gold medal at the U-20 World Championships. He also ranked US#1 in the 400 meters at 45.51 seconds.

Adrian Piperi (The Woodlands TX)

The junior won the greatest high school shot put competition of all-time by digging deep for a PR 73-5.75 on his sixth and final throw at New Balance Nationals Outdoor. He PR'd three times in the competition. He was fifth at the U-20 World Championships.

Michael Slagowski (Rocky Mountain ID)

The senior ran 3:59.53 in the mile at the Nike/Jesuit Twilight Relays to become the ninth prep in U.S. history to smash the four-minute barrier. He later ran sub-four again at the Prefontaine Classic. Additionally, he ran 1:48.36 in the 800 meters, good for US#2 for the year.

Sean Torpy (Carl Sandburg IL)

He ran an Illinois state record and No. 10 all-time 1:47.95 in the 800 meters at the Midwest Distance Classic. 

Vernon Turner (Yukon OK)

When the junior cleared 7 feet, 4.50 in the high jump at the Oklahoma state championships it was the highest successful jump by a prep athlete in seven years. That mark is tied for No. 8 all-time. 

Ja'Mari Ward (Cahokia IL)

He delivered a career-best 53-7.50 in the triple jump before his season was interrupted by a dislocated knee cap injury. He returned in time to qualify for the U-20 World Championships, where he won the gold medal in the long jump with a lifetime best 26-1.50. Ward goes into the history books as the best combo horizontal jumper in prep history (top eight in both).