* Tsadia Bercuvitz (263) won the STAC Championship over the weekend in New York
Photo Credit: Derrick Dingle/MileSplit New York
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Big races, bigger statements.
As the postseason gets rolling, the nation's top girls are turning up the pace and rewriting the record books.
From breakout stars to seasoned favorites, these performances set the tone for what's still to come.
The National Performer of the Week poll will close at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, October 30, 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:
Braelyn Combe, Santiago Corona (Calif.): For the third consecutive year, it was Combe who broke the tape, and this time she broke the meet record too. At the 77th Annual Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational, the senior clocked 16:53.2 in the Girls D1/D2 Individual Sweepstakes race, keeping her foot on the gas from start to finish after opening in a swift 5:14 first mile. By the time she reached the finish, it was just her and the crowd, as she had built a 26-second lead over the rest of the field. Combe's mark broke Abigail Errington's previous record of 16:57.
Julia Kelly, Downingtown West 01 (Pa.): Is there a better time to break 17:00 for the first time than at the start of the state postseason? At the PIAA District 1 Championships, Kelly comfortably claimed the win in 16:54.4, lowering her personal best by 36 seconds. The performance makes her the fifth-fastest Pennsylvanian of all time and the second-fastest sophomore in state history, trailing only Marlee Starliper.
Tsadia Bercuvitz, Ithaca (N.Y.): In her sixth race of the season, Bercuvitz notched a new lifetime best over 5k, running 17:18.7 to win the STAC Championship. The junior dominated from start to finish, taking the lead early and never looking back as she built a gap of 1:43 on the field. Along with her individual title, she helped lead her team to a decisive victory, scoring 34 points to Vestal's (N.Y.) 80.
Julia Score, Bishop Chatard (Ind.): The Wake Forest commit had a big day on the grass, winning her IHSAA Regional title over a strong field. Score navigated the Brownsburg course in 17:04.8, shattering her previous best of 17:15 from last season. She's returning to form at the perfect time, entering the state championship as one of Indiana's top contenders. Score also helped her team place third overall out of 27 schools.
Addy Ritzenhein, Niwot (Colo.): After becoming one of the few runners nationwide to earn a Golden Ticket for the upcoming Brooks XC Championships, Ritzenhein handled business at the Colorado 5A Region 3 meet, breaking 17:00 for the first time this season. The future NAU Lumberjack made a statement, clocking 16:54 to win by nearly 1:40. Unsurprisingly, she also led Niwot to the team title over a strong Boulder squad, 31-49. Ritzenhein will look to capture her third consecutive cross country state title next week.
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)
Week 7: Leila Hailey, Rockvale (Tenn.)
Week 8: Macy Wingard, Denton-Braswell (Texas)