19 Days Until the State Boys Cross Country Announcement
Gatorade 2021 - 2022: Player of the Year

Boys Track & Field - South Dakota

athletes playing Boys Track & Field
The POY Logo
BOYS TRACK & FIELD

Simeon Birnbaum

Distance/Middle distance
STEVENS HS
RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA
JUNIOR
Height: 6-FOOT-0
Press Release

Peak Performance

1st - 3:59.51

Brooks PR Invitational - Mile

2nd - 1:50.12

Nike Outdoor Nationals - 800m
“Simeon dominated this year. He is not only a strong runner, he is good at race tactics. It will be fun to see how far running will take him.”
Greg Murley
Head Coach - head coach of Aberdeen Central High
excellence star

Athletic Excellence

The state’s 2021-22 Gatorade Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, the 6-foot, 145-pound junior became the 16th high-school-age boy in history to break 4 minutes in the mile run this past year. Birnbaum crossed the line in 3:59.51 to win the mile at the Brooks PR Invitational, setting a state record with a time that ranked No. 5 nationally among prep competitors in 2022 at the time of his selection. Birnbaum set a state record when he finished second in the 800-meter run in 1:50.12 at Nike Outdoor Nationals, and he produced another state-best mark with a winning time of 8:55.22 in the 3,200-meter run at the Howard Wood Relays. He swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at the Class AA state meet, leading the Raiders to a second-place finish as a team.

a graduation cap

Academic Achievement

Birnbaum has maintained a 3.85 GPA in the classroom. He will begin his senior year of high school this fall.

first place ribbon

Exemplary Character

The first chair alto saxophone player in the Stevens High jazz band, Birnbaum has volunteered locally as part of multiple community service initiatives through his church youth group.