Chugiak High junior Tyler Rohde has been named the Gatorade Alaska boys track and field athlete of the year, and Wasilla High senior Morgan Dampier has been honored with the girls award for the second straight year. Rohde swept the two hurdles events at the state meet last month in Fairbanks, where he was named the boys' 4A Most Outstanding Athlete. He broke the state record in the 110-meter hurdles, clocking 14.61 seconds, and claimed the 300 hurdles in 39.34. He also ran the leadoff leg on the Mustangs' 4x400 winning relay team and anchored their second-place 4x200 team.

Rohde owns a 3.42 grade-point average, is president of Chugiak's Junior Achievement Program and has done extensive volunteer work.

Dampier, the girls 4A Most Outstanding Athlete at the state meet, won the 200 (25.82), 400 (57.65) and 800 (2:20.04) and finished second in the 100 (12.75). She clocked a blistering 2:10.98 in the 800 earlier in the season.

Dampier, who racked a 3.98 GPA and is headed to California State-Sacramento, has volunteered for local clothing and canned foods drives, as well as a holiday gift-giving campaign.