Track: Michael Norman has a lot to smile about

Michael Norman of Vista Murrieta didn’t win the Gatorade male athlete of the year award on Tuesday night during a banquet in Los Angeles, but his memorable junior season still left him smiling.

His performances in the 200 and 400 in track and field have stamped him as the nation’s top prospect going into his senior season.

He said that his focus on 2016 will be trying to make the U.S. Olympic team during trials next July in Eugene, Ore. He plans to push back his workouts so that he will be peaking for the trials. He wants to make the 4 x 400 relay team or qualify in the 400.

What’s clear is that he has a growing legion of fans supporting him. He was signing autographs on Tuesday. Gatorade put out a baseball-like card on Norman, which could be much in demand from his Vista Murrieta teammates.

Norman is such a great ambassador for his sport. He loves competing, he’s comfortable sharing his success with friends and fans and the sky is the limit on how fast he might run.

“This season has been amazing,” he said.

But his senior season could be even more amazing with a chance to make the Olympic team on the line.

He also has lined up trips for his official college visits: USC, Texas, Texas A&M, LSU and Baylor. UCLA is also heavily recruiting him.

Twitter:@LATSondheimer