* Sophia Szolosi was all smiles after winning big at Saturday Night Lights by Nike
Photo Credit: Shawn Conlon/MileSplit Ohio
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On one hand, part of me feels like it's been years since the 2024 cross country season, and on the other, it seems like it was just yesterday that national history was being made weekend after weekend.
Regardless, the cross country season is back, and that means it's time for the return of the National Performer of the Week!
The National Performer of the Week poll will close at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, August 28, and the winner will be announced shortly after.
Take a look at five of the top-performing boys from this past weekend.
This Week's Nominees:
Averi Lowen, Bowdon (Ga.): Is there any better way to open up your season than by lowering your own state record? At the Bob Blastow Invitational, the superstar junior made light work of a talented field, running 16:52.95 as she won by over 90 seconds. Lowen also lowered her own state record, smashing it by nearly seven seconds as she became the first Georgia girl to ever break 17:00 more than once.
Calysta Garmer, Webb School of Knoxville (Tenn.): It was a dream Saturday morning for the future Furman Paladin, as Calysta Garmer took home the win at the Ballantyne Ridge Cross Country Invitational. Garmer's big PB of 17:08.28 was more than enough to push her up to No. 10 in Tennessee history, and she has the chance to enter the top-five if things continue to go her way. Garmer led the way for The Webb School of Knoxville's 1-2 punch, has her twin sister, Jazzlyn, who was runner-up in 17:13.44.
Maysen Fletcher, Herbert Hoover (W. Va.): In her sophomore debut, Fletcher did what she does best: win convincingly. Out in St. Mary's, Fletcher took down Wheeling Park's (W. Va.) Brenna Tipton, a sophomore who is familiar with the Herbert Hoover (W. Va.) product. Fletcher stopped the clock at 17:22.22, 47 seconds ahead of Tipton and the remainder of the 120-person field. The third-fastest girl in high school history can move up to No. 2 and take the sophomore class record this season if she can break Alyssa Sauro's (Williamstown) record of 16:52.11 from 2022.
Sophia Szolosi, Athens (Ohio): After opening up her season with the OHSAA Pre-Season Cross Country Invitational and Saturday Night Lights by Nike, Szolosi is a perfect 2-0 thus far, and has been racing just like an experienced upperclassman like herself is capable of. Over the weekend, Szolosi clocked 17:23.10 in Centerville, as she put 45 seconds between herself and the chase pack. The Duke commit also shattered her lifetime best by 16 seconds, making her the fastest girl in the state this year.
Annabella Tomasic, Bishop Moore (Fla.): Although she's no stranger to racing against high schoolers, it doesn't make it any less impressive when she runs away with the win. As a crowd of over 4,000 sweat-covered fans cheered on all six races, Tomasic took advantage of the atmosphere and put on a show. The Bishop Moore (Fla.) freshman technically made her high school debut at the Cecil Field Summer Classic, running 17:37 as she picked apart a field of over 300 runners. It's also worth noting that Tomasic won the FHSAA Class 2A state title while representing Lake Highland Prep High School in seventh grade.