* Drew Griffith won the boys mile at the HOKA Festival of Miles, breaking four in the process
Photo Credit: Chris Auckley/Missouri MileSplit
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The best distance runner in the country and one of the best in high school history, Drew Griffith, threw down a historic double at the PIAA Track and Field Championships.
Griffith won in 3:57.08, surpassing a very specific National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) record in the process. If that wasn't enough, he also won the 3,200m in 8:43.72.
The winning kept going after the races.
This week, he took the National Performer of the Week poll over Nixa's (MO) superstar thrower Jackson Cantwell, claiming 34.57-percent of votes to Cantwell's 31.11-percent.
Just like last week, voting for this week's poll will close at 12:00 p.m. on Friday.
This Week's Nominees:
Mateo Medina, Elyria (OH): He scored three individual state titles and a team title in Ohio. Just wow. Medina won the 100m, 200m and the 400m at the OHSAA Division I State Championships, running 10.82, 21.67 and a new PB of 45.88. Medina totaled 30 points all on his own, just enough to edge out Wayne High School in the team standings, 30-29. The Arizona State signee posted a dominant 29-2 record over the three events this season.
Drew Griffith, Butler (PA): It's not often you see the most recent National Performer of the Week back as a nominee just days later, but Griffith is different. In of the most anticipated races of the season, Griffith was the lone athlete to dip under 4:00 at the HOKA Festival of Miles. Griffith pulled away over the last lap to stop the clock at 3:57.72, making him the sixth-fastest high schooler of all-time.
Ajani Dwyer, Washington TWP (NJ): Over the weekend at the NJSIAA Sectionals South Groups 1 & 4 meet, Dwyer swept the sprints, winning both the 100m and 200m in wind-legal times of 10.21 and 20.86. Those are No. 2 and No. 1 times in the state this spring. Dwyer is 11-0 this season and will look to continue winning throughout the rest of the postseason.
Ben Smith, Hortonville (WI): One of the greatest throwers in recent memory, Smith won the shot put and finished runner-up in the discus, bumping up his total of state titles to six. Smith threw the disc 207-4 and 70-9.5 for the shot, his third and second best marks in both events this season. Smith will have a few more chances this outdoor season to make more Wisconsin history before heading to the University of Oregon this fall.
Juriad Hughes Jr., Irondale (MN): It was three events and three MSHSL Section titles for the senior. Hughes Jr. won the 100m, 200m and long jump titles with efforts of 10.67 and 21.47 and a mark of 24-6.5, which was the eighth-best jump this season. Hughes Jr. most likely has a long summer of competition ahead of him, including the Minnesota State Championships, as well as AAU and Nike Outdoor.
Indoor Season Review:
Week 1 Winner: Julian Carter II, Marion (AR)
Week 2 Winner: Josiah Tostenson, Crater (OR)
Week 3 Winner: Colin Abrams, Bullis School (MD)
Week 4 Winner: Ethan Edgeworth, Cold Springs (AL)
Week 5 Winner: Quincy Wilson, Bullis School (MD)
Week 6 Winner: Caine Stanley, IMG Academy (FL)
Week 7 Winner: Jordan Sowell, Cheltenham (PA)
Week 8 Winner: Ade Lloyd, Harriton (PA)
Week 9 Winner: Luke Pash, Ridgewood (NJ)
Week 10 Winner: Jayden Horton-Mims, Imhotep Charter
Outdoor Season Review:
Week 1 Winner: Cooper Lutkenhaus, Justin Northwest (TX)
Week 2 Winner: Riley Smith, Buchholz (FL)
Week 3 Winner: Quincy Wilson, Bullis School (MD)
Week 4 Winner: Daniel Simmons, American Fork (UT)
Week 5 Winner: Mason Dossett, Ridge Point (TX)
Week 6 Winner: Niqualas Chew, Elgin (OK)
Week 7 Winner: Brady Mullen, Jesuit (LA)
Week 8 Winner: Tommy Latham, Marist (GA)
Week 9 Winner: Stefon Dodoo, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (PA)
Week 10 Winner: Drew Griffith, Butler (PA)
National Performer of the Week: