Cameron Tucker of Jay M. Robinson named Gatorade NC boys track and field player of the year

Jay M. Robinson’s Cameron Tucker carried a demeanor of calm and delivered confidence at this year’s N.C. High School Athletic Association 5A Outdoor Track and Field state championships. He blazed through the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter dashes, winning them all with time to spare. 

It’s that dominance that earned him the 2026 Gatorade North Carolina Boys Track and Field Player of the Year. He is Jay M. Robinson’s first-ever Gatorade player of the year regardless of sport.

• Every NC Gatorade Player of the Year (all sports)

Tucker made all sorts of history for the Bulldogs this year. Not only is he the first Gatorade POY, but he also led the program to its first state championship on May 15. At the state meet, he ran a 10.45 in the 100, a 20.66 in the 200, and 46.11 in the 400. Tucker also holds an NCHSAA indoor track state record in the 300m.

“Tucker is one of those high-demand commodities who makes collegiate programs salivate,” said Rich Gonzalez, editor of PrepCalTrack.com. “He proved to be a scoring machine when the state meet arrived, yet left enough in the tank to clock a spectacular 400 at USATF U20s, which moved him into the No. 9 slot in prep history.”

According to a press release from Gatorade, the 5-foot-9 senior “took third at the USATF U20 Championships earlier this month with a career-best and state-record clocking of 45.15 seconds in the 400-meter dash, which ranked No. 3 nationally among prep boys competitors in 2026 and No. 9 in prep history. At the state meet in the 200, his winning time of 20.66 was a personal best and ranked No. 8 nationally this spring as well as No. 66 in prep history.”

Tucker is signed with the University of South Carolina to continue his track and field career. Per the Gatorade press release, Tucker maintained a 3.33 weighted GPA and is active in volunteer work with the Special Olympics as a mentor.