Photo Credit: Ryan Comstock/MileSplit Pennsylvania
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The first weekend of October delivered plenty of excitement on the girls' side, with national contenders living up to the hype and new stars emerging.
From the Nike XC Town Twilight Invitational to the Shore Coaches Invitational, top athletes turned in statement performances that are sure to shake up the national rankings as the season heats up.
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 girls from this past weekend.
*Athletes cannot be nominated for National Performer of the Week in back-to-back weeks*
POLL: National Boys XC Performer of the Week (Sep. 29 - Oct. 5)
This Week's Nominees:
Leila Hailey, Rockvale (Tenn.): After back-to-back-to-back third-place finishes, Hailey finally picked up her first win over 5k, taking the victory at the HOKA Frank Horton "Night" Classic. Hailey ran 17:13 in the win, marking a new PB and the third-fastest time in the state this season. The senior won by eight seconds as she and her sister finished first and third overall.
Isabella Keller, Effingham (Ill.): In one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the weekend, it was the out-of-state junior who conquered the field in Terre Haute. At the Nike XC Town Twilight Invitational, Keller broke 17:00 for the first time, clocking 16:52.92 as she nearly took down Jane Hedengren's meet record (16:50) and became the ninth-fastest high school girl to ever run on the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.
Jane Wangari, Athens Christian (Ga.): The dream season continues for the sophomore, as she dipped below 17:00 for the first time this fall, running 16:41.78 to break the tape at the Alexander/ASICS Invitational. There was never a doubt that it was her race to win, as she put together a 38-second lead en route to her fourth race of the season. She also just missed Jenna Hutchins' meet record of 16:40.79 from 2020.
Kendra Williamson, Episcopal Academy (Penn.): In her fifth race of the year, Williamson notched her fourth win, this time running a PB of 17:04.9 at the Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The junior edged out in-state foe Reese Miller by two seconds, as she continues to prove she's one of the state's best runners. Williamson is also the fastest junior in state history, and sixth all-time.
Blair Bartlett, The Lawrenceville School (N.J.): At the Shore Coaches Invitational, Bartlett did what she does best: win. The junior crossed the finish line in 17:24, over 90 seconds ahead of the runner-up. In her four wins this season, Bartlett has won by a combined 6:34, with her closest competitor finishing just under 40 seconds back. She already owns the New Jersey junior class record, and if she can lower her time by five more seconds, she'll break Janet Smith's 42-year-old state record.
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.)
Week 4: Sienna Anderson, Summit (Tenn.)
Week 5: Jazzlyn Garner, The Webb School of Knoxville (Tenn.)
Week 6: Kaitlyn Carr, Smithville (Ohio)