We have written before about Justin Forde, now a graduated senior at Brien McMahon High School and a former participant of Carver’s after school Youth Development Program. Here is a post about his receiving a full athletic scholarship from the University of Miami. Today, The Hour writes about Forde being named the 2018-19 Gatorade Connecticut Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

Justin Forde of McMahon clears 6'6" in the high jump during the CIAC State Open Outdoor Track & Field Championship in New Britain on June 3. Forde has been named the 2018-19 Gatorade Connecticut Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

Justin Forde of Brien McMahon has been named the 2018-19 Gatorade Connecticut Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Forde, who also won the award last season, is the second Gatorade Connecticut Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Brien McMahon, joining 2015-16 winner Eric van der Els.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the track, distinguishes Forde as Connecticut’s best high school boys track & field athlete. He is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year award to be announced later this month.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior won a triple jump national championship this past season, soaring 51 feet, 6.5 inches at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor. The state’s returning Gatorade Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, Forde also won the triple jump at the State Open with a mark of 50-2 and leapt 23-5.75 to capture the long jump as well. He took second in the high jump. His season-best, wind-legal effort of 50-9 in the triple jump ranked as the nation’s No. 2 performance among prep competitors in 2019 at the time of his selection.

A mentor for younger students, Forde has volunteered locally on behalf of youth basketball and track programs.

“Justin Forde is, above everything, a competitor,” Brien McMahon coach Patrick Bradley said in a press release. “He has natural ability, but he always works hard and strives to improve upon his talent. He’s a student of the sport and prepares for every competition like a champion.”

Forde has maintained a B average in the classroom. He has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in track & field on scholarship at the University of Miami beginning this fall.