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Valley 18-year-old Paige Harris honored with ESPY Award

Posted at 7:14 PM, Jul 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-12 22:14:49-04

It's become one of the biggest events in sports -- the annual ESPY Awards.

This year, Arizona will be well represented. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi are all nominees.

But, 18-year-old Paige Harris from Peoria's Sunrise Mountain High School has already won.

In front of friends, family, and classmates, Paige was given an honorary ESPY last Friday.

Paige was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3, and epilepsy at 8.

That has not stopped her from becoming a star athlete in the Special Olympics and at her high school, where she inspires fellow students with her hard work.

"If I look over at Paige, who had a seizure like two days ago, and she's over their working her butt off in the weight room, I have no excuse," says Caleb Morris, one of Paige's track teammates. "I have to up my game to match what Paige is putting on the table."

Paige was one of only a few dozen honorary ESPY winners from around the country.