* Zariel Macchia (left) won this week's NPOTW poll for the cross country season; Andie Aagard (right) is a nominee for week 12 of the season
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One of New York's best distance runners was able to put everything together at the NYSPHSAA Class A State Cross Country Championships.
After placing ninth as a freshman, William Floyd's (NY) Zariel Macchia was able to cross the finish line in 18:02 for the individual title this year. She gave herself a six-second separation from the rest of the field.
During the week, Macchia earned 41-percent of the nation's vote.
This weekend was full of qualifiers for Team Nationals and there were other eye-catching performances across the nation. It's now time to vote for our next winner.
We will recognize a winner every week in this poll, with nominations handed out on Monday. The poll will end on Friday and winners will be announced the following Monday.
Here are the nominations for the National Girls Performer Of The Week Poll:
Isabel Conde De Frankenberg, Cedar Park (TX): The sophomore earned the Team National South Regional title in 17:23
Andie Aagard, Lone Peak (UT): The junior clocked 16:51 for 5K at the Team Nationals Southwest Regional meet. She paved the way for Lone Peak to earn an auto-qualifier bid with its runner-up finish.
Payton Godsey, Oaks Christian (CA): The junior clocked a 16:54 for three miles to win the Southern Section Finals. She earned a 147 speed rating for her performance.
Hanne Thomsen, Montgomery (CA): The sophomore won her sixth straight cross country race at the CIF North Coast Section Divison III Championships. She was the only girl in her division to break 17-minutes for three miles, and along the way, she earned a 151 speed rating.
Karrie Baloga, Cornwall (NY): Baloga continued her undefeated success this season by taking down a loaded field at the NY Federation Championships. The University of Colorado signee ran the fastest time of the day with a 17:48 for 5K. She was the only girl to go sub-18-minutes and earned a 154 speed rating.
Aoife Shovlin, Cambridge Rindge and Latin (MA): After finishing in the top 52 last year at the MIAA State Championships as a freshman, the sophomore put together one of the best races in her career as she won her first state title in her career. She won the title in 18:12.
Kynzlee Buckley, Buchanan (CA): The freshman helped Buchanan score the team title with 18 pointsat the CIF Central Section Finals as crossed the finish line in 17:39 for the victory.
NPOTW Winners:
- Week 1: Abbey Nechanicky, Wayzata (MN)
- Week 2: Claire Stegall, Nolensville (TN)
- Week 3: Helen Sachs, Holland West Ottawa (MI)
- Week 4: Karrie Baloga, Cornwall (NY)
- Week 5: Ciara O'Shea, Madison Central (KY)
- Week 6: Karrie Baloga, Cornwall (NY)
- Week 7: Gillian Bushee, Herndon (VA)
- Week 8: Chiara Dailey, La Jolla (CA)
- Week 9: Paityn Noe, Ballard (IA)
- Week 10: Katie Clute, Olmstead Falls (OH)
- Week 11: Zariel Macchia, William Floyd (NY)