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In its 36th year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Marcus Hansen of Waseca High School as its 2020-21 Gatorade Minnesota Boys Track & Field Player of the Year. Hansen is the first Gatorade Minnesota Boys Track & Field Player of the Year to be chosen from Waseca High School.
The 5-foot-11, 230-pound senior swept the shot put and discus events at the Class AA state meet this past season, leading the Blue Jays to a sixth-place finish as a team. Hansen's winning marks at the state meet were both personal bests. At the time of his selection, his 63 feet, 2.25 inches put of the shot ranked No. 14 nationally among 2021 prep competitors. The 2021 Mr. Track & Field Minnesota winner, Hansen also ranked No. 70 nationally in the discus this spring with a throw of 178-8.
Hansen is committed to playing football in the fall at Bemidji State University.
Hansen joins recent Gatorade Minnesota Boys Track & Field Players of the Year AJ Green (2019-20 & 2018-19, Eastview High School), Samuel Moore (2017-18, Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale), and Jake Kubiatowicz (2016-17, North High School), among the state's list of former award winners.