* Rylee Blade (left) won this week's NPOTW poll; Hanne Thomsen (right) is a nominee for this week's Performer Of The Week
Photo Credit: MileSplit
- - -
In Pomona, California, a junior from Santiago Corona (CA) put together a lifetime best race at the Cool Breeze Invitational.
Rylee Blade, the third-place finisher at the CIF Division I State Cross Country Championships in 2022, dominated the competition by winning the title by nearly 60 seconds.
In her season opener, she set a new three mile personal best of 16:30 and earned a 142 speed rating for her performance. During the week, Blade earned 71-percent of the votes and was named this week's National Girls Performer Of The Week.
It's time to vote for this week's NPOTW. The poll will end on Friday and winners will be announced the following Monday.
Here are the nominations for the Nationals Girls Performer Of The Week:
Norah Hushagen, Forest Lake Area: At the Anoka Steve Hoag Invitational in Minnesota, the junior was the only girl to break 18-minutes for 5K with a 17:31.
Payton Godsey, Oaks Christian (CA): In her season debut, the NAU commit clocked a 16:25 to win the three mile race at the Marmonte League Meet. Her performance equaled a 149 speed rating.
Isabel Allori, Liberty Common (CO): MileSplit50's No. 16 preseason-ranked runner won the Liberty Bell Cross Country Invitational with a 16:51 against a loaded field. Her performance was a 146 speed rating.
Hanne Thomsen, Montgomery (CA): In her season debut, Thomsen clocked a 15:42 in a two mile short course race to win the Lowell Invitational by 30 seconds. This mark equaled a 142 speed rating.
Emily Wisniewski, Crescent Valley (OR): The junior clocked 17-flat to win the Ash Creek XC Festival in Oregon with a new personal best. She earned a 146 speed rating for her efforts.
Emily Smith, Colleyville Covenant Christian (TX): At the MileSplit Texas XC Invitational, Emily Smith won the title in 18:07.
Paige Sheppard, Union Catholic (NJ): Sheppard ran the third-fastest performance by a freshman this weekend at the Trials of Miles XC Opening Night. The 2022 AAU National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championship gold medalist set a new 5K personal best to win the title in 17:53.
Mia Hoffmann, Bemidji: Hoffmann won the Moorhead Dragon Twilight in Minnesota and became the only girl that day to dip under 18-minutes for 5K. She earned a 137 speed rating when she crossed the finish line in 17:27.
NPOTW Week 1:
- Week 1: Tula Fawbush, Oldham County (KY)
- Week 2: Elizabeth Lechman, Boerne Champion (TX)
- Week 3: Rylee Blade, Santiago Corona (CA)