National Boys Performer Of The Week (4/22-4/28)

Apr 29, 2024

* Vance Nilsson is the top hurdler in the country over 300mH, and one of the fastest in high school history

Photo Credit: Jacob Beng/California MileSplit

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Just how surprising was this week's National Performer of the Week voting? Elgin High School (OK) sprint superstar Niqualas Chew took down the newly-minted American U20 record holder Christian Miller (Creekside, FL)

Just over a week ago, Chew put on a show at the 52nd Titan Invitational, winning the long jump in dominant fashion. Leaping to a new PB of 25-4.75, Chew easily won the competition by over three feet.

Not only was it a nifty personal best, but it was also the second-farthest mark in Oklahoma history, and the best mark the state has seen in 17 years. In addition to his record-breaking performance in the long jump, Chew also competed in the 4x100m, 4x200m and 100m on the same day.

Chew picked up 30-percent of the votes in last week's National Performer of the Week voting, with Miller right behind him with 29% of the votes. Just like last week, voting for this week's poll will close at 12:00 p.m. CST on Friday.

Have fun voting!

This Week's Nominees:

Malachi Yehudah, Langston Hughes (GA): The group above 7-0 just got a little more crowded, as Yehudah became the sixth high schooler to soar over a bar equivalent to the height of NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon. Yehudah cleared 7-1, making him the second best jumper in the country this season, trailing only DeBeque's (CO) Scottie Vines. Before his stellar performance at his Georgia Class 6A region meet, Yehudah had yet to clear 7-0 this season.

Vance Nilsson, Gilbert (AZ): He just keeps getting faster. For the fifth time this season, Nilsson lowered his PB in the 300mH, but this time taking off nearly a second as he stopped the clock in 35.50 -- which is the fastest time in Arizona history. Nilsson notched the achievement at the Northeast Valley Championships, defending both of his titles in the 110mH and 300mH, keeping his undefeated season alive. He ranks No. 3 and No. 1 in the 110mH and 300mH this season, and is the ninth-fastest high schooler in history in the 300mH according to the MileSplit database.

Ben Smith, Hortonville (WI): Another week, another win for the future Oregon Duck, as Smith won both the discus and shot put at two different meets this past weekend. His best marks out of both meets were a 208-11 throw in the discus at the Oshkosh North FVA Co-Ed Tri, while he also threw 67-7 in the shot at the Ripon Tom Callen Invite. Smith leads the nation in the discus, and sits No. 5 in the shot put. He's also a perfect 10-0 on the year.

Nathan Neil, Bozeman (MT): What a statement win by the Montana senior. At the Nike/Jesuit Twilight Relays, the Bozeman star picked up huge resume-boosting win in the mile, clocking 4:01.31 for the dub. Not only did he come out on top of a loaded field, but he lowered his PB by roughly nine seconds and now sits No. 2 in the country. He's the fastest high schooler in Montana history.

Sidi Njie, Westlake (GA): At his GHSA Class 7A regional meet, Njie took a home a pair of wins in the 200m and 400m, comfortably punching his ticket to sectionals this upcoming weekend. Njie ran 20.67 and 46.07 in both sprints. Njie came into the season as the top returning runner in both events, as well as the state champion in the quarter-mile. The 400m state record holder is the top athlete in both events so far this season.