Lake Park's Block named top track athlete in state

State champion shot put and discus thrower Dan Block of Lake Park High School has been selected as the 2008-09 Gatorade Illinois Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

Block is the second boys track athlete to receive the honor from Gatorade.

The award recognizes outstanding athletic excellence as well as high academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the track. Block is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year award to be announced in June.

The 6-foot-4 senior thrower set all-time state records in the shot put and discus this season and swept both events at the Class AAA State Championships earlier last month. In his high school career, Block captured four state championship medals.

Block broke the state meet record in the discus with his throw of 205 feet, 8 inches, after earlier setting the overall state record of 208 feet, 11 inches, which ranked No. 3 in the nation among prep competitors at the time of his selection.

He won the shot put event with an effort of 62 feet, and set the state record with a throw of 66 feet, 3 inches at the Lake Zurich Invitational.

Block, who has maintained a B average in school, has volunteered locally instructing youth track and field athletes and assists in the care of a disabled family member.

"Dan is incredibly dedicated and a hard worker who just loves track and field," said Lake Park Throwing Coach Bob Nihells. "He's very humble and has a low-key demeanor - but he's proven himself as the top prep thrower in Illinois history."

Block has accepted a track scholarship to compete at the University of Kentucky this fall.

Block joins recent Gatorade Illinois Boys Track & Field Athletes of the Year Mat Smoody (2007-08, Palatine) and Evan Jager (2006-07 & 2005-06, Jacobs) among the state's list of former award winners. Anthony Moorman, a Lake Park sprinter, won the honor in 1996-97.