Photo Credit: Stone Lee Brown/MileSplit Arkansas
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The first weekend of racing this month exceeded expectations as national contenders continued to shine and underdogs rose from the woodwork to announce their presence.
From the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival to the Great American XC Festival, the big stages delivered everything fans could hope for with fast times, dramatic finishes, and breakout performances as teams started building postseason momentum.
The National Performer of the Week poll will close at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, October 9, and the winner will be announced shortly after.
Take a look at five of the top-performing boys from this past weekend.
*Athletes cannot be nominated for National Performer of the Week in back-to-back weeks*
This Week's Nominees:
Jameson Pifer, Collins Hill (Ga.): For the second time this season, it was Pifer who ran away from the field to break the time, this time doing so at the Alexander/Asics Invitational. After running 15:35 at this same meet a year ago, the senior took off nearly a full minute, running 14:37 to establish a new lifetime best. This marks the second time the senior has run under 15 minutes.
Paul Van Laningham, Cooper (Ky.): Under the lights at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, Van Laningham picked up his fourth win in five races, breaking the tape at the Nike XC Town Twilight Invitational. In a race that saw five boys break 15:00, the Kentucky-based senior won by six seconds as he notched another statement win.
Jackson Free, Mountain Home (Ark.): After making the two and a half hour drive, the in-state favorite took care of business at the 2025 Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival. The senior left nothing up to chance as he pulled away by 13 seconds, running a new PB of 14:44. Free is also the first in-state winner of the 'El Caliente' division since 2018, and is now the fourth-fastest high schooler in meet history.
Travis Furmanski, Cedar Crest 03 (Pa.): At the annual Paul Short Run, it was Cedar Crest 03's senior front runner who broke the tape, clocking 14:53.8 as he picked up his first win over 5k this season. Furmanski had his work cut out for him, but the experienced veteran ultimately pulled away to win by three seconds, improving on his 26th-place finish from a year ago.
Marcelo Mantecon, Belen Jesuit Prep (Fla.): Another week, another win for the undefeated junior, this time against a field of nearly 400 runners at the Great American XC Festival. Mantecon reminded everyone once again that he's the real deal, running 14:39 to successfully defend his meet title from a year ago. He also became the first athlete since 2016 to break 14:40, joining high school legends Brodey Hasty and DJ Principe in the record books.
NPOTW's Previous Winners:
Week 1: Aaron Brodrick, Oconee County (Ga.)
Week 2: Sean Fries, Minnetonka (Minn.)
Week 3: Brody Anderson, Topeka-Seaman (Kan.)
Week 4: Griffen Saacke, Bridgeland (Texas)
Week 5: Kavi Gibson, Cary Academy (N.C.)
Week 6: Andrew Brown, Tupelo (Miss.)