35 Days Until the State Football Announcement
Gatorade 2022 - 2023: Player of the Year

Girls Track & Field - Missouri

athletes playing Girls Track & Field
The POY Logo
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

Zaya Akins

Sprints
RAYTOWN SOUTH HS
RAYTOWN, MISSOURI
SENIOR
Height: 5-FOOT-8
Press Release

Peak Performance

1st

Class 5 State Meet - 100m

1st

Class 5 State Meet - 200m

1st

Class 5 State Meet - 400m

1st

New Balance Indoor National - 400m
“Zaya Akins added to her legacy as the most well-rounded sprinter in Missouri prep history, supporting her all-time marks in the 100 and 200 by lowering her own 400 standard with a second career sub-53 performance. Akins secured her third career national title in the 400 with a victory at the New Balance indoor final in Boston.”
Erik Boal
editor at DyeStat.com
excellence star

Athletic Excellence

The state’s returning Gatorade Girls Track & Field Player of the Year, the 5-foot-8 senior won Class 5 state titles in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter events this past season, concluding her prep career as the fastest competitor in Missouri history in each event, including a NWI mark of 11.36 in the 100 and a 52.83 effort in the 400 in 2023. Akins also ranked in the top 20 nationally in all three sprints among girls high school competitors, at the time of her selection. She captured a New Balance indoor national championship in the 400 and finished second in the outdoor 200 at the Great Southwest Classic.

a graduation cap

Academic Achievement

Akins has maintained a 3.88 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete on scholarship at the University of Kentucky this fall.

first place ribbon

Exemplary Character

Akins has volunteered locally with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City, Youth Ministries at Church, Toys for Tots, Student City Youth Group and Harvesters, in addition to creating and handing out care packages to deliver to those in need.