Photo Credit: Harrison Wampler/MileSplit Alabama
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From the Southern Showcase to the Liberty Bell Invitational, some of the biggest early-season meets came and went over the weekend, as girls across the country excelled in their first real tests of their title chase.
The National Performer of the Week poll will close at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, September 18, and the winner will be announced shortly after.
Take a look at five of the top-performing girls from this past weekend.
*Athletes cannot be nominated for National Performer of the Week in back-to-back weeks*
This Week's Nominees:
Delaney Reuter, Eaton (Colo.): She may not have picked up the win, but she came as close as you can! At the 2025 Liberty Bell Cross Country Invitational, Reuter battled all the way to the line with senior Emry Schwalm (Heritage), as the duo crossed in 16:43.2 and 16:43.4, respectively. Reuter now sits No. 3 all-time in Colorado history and is now one of nine Colorado high school girls to ever break 16:50. She's now the fastest junior in state history, and is one of the 30 fastest juniors in prep history.
Kaylie Shultz, Salina Central (Kan.): Under the lights at Olathe Twilight, the experienced junior handled business as she came out victorious over a field of talented girls. Shultz left the field in her dust, crossing in 17:18 as she won by 51 seconds and picked up her second win on the year. She is currently the top athlete in Kansas and one of the quickest in the Heartland Region right now, heading into this weekend.
Anya Zoeller, Pendleton Heights (Ind.): At the Eagle Classic, the sophomore dropped her PB yet again, this time running under 17:00 for the first time in her career. Zoeller ultimately put 35 seconds between her and the chase pack, leading five girls under 17:40. The top sophomore in the country this year is also the lone second-year student sub-17 up to this point of the season.
Leah Starkey, Ocean Township (N.J.): In her first 5k of the season, Starkey notched a lifetime best of 17:06.00 at the Battle @ Ocean County Park. Starkey won the Girls Sophomore race by exactly a minute, as she was the lone finisher under 18:00. Starkey comfortably took down a field of 120+ sophomore girls, as she picked up her second consecutive win at Ocean County Park.
Sienna Anderson, Summit (Tenn.): At the Southern Showcase, Anderson was one of five girls to dip below 18:00, holding off the Hailey sisters from Rockvale (Tenn.). The senior stopped the clock at 17:43.14, 40 seconds faster than what she ran a year ago when she finished 4th. Not only did she pick up the individual title, Anderson led Summit to the team title over Knoxville Catholic (Tenn.) and Creekview (Ga.), 161-191-196.
NPOTW's Previous Winners:
Week 1: Sophia Szolosi, Athens (Ohio)
Week 2: Addison Kegel, Billings Central Catholic (Mont.)
Week 3: Brianna Reilly, Harrisburg (S.D.)