* Domenic San Miguel came out on top of a thrilling finish down the homestretch
Photo Credit: Chris Langford/MileSplit Texas
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State titles, course records, and finishes decided by fractions of a second, another slate of the championship season brought it all this week.
From wire-to-wire dominance to photo-finish drama, these five athletes delivered when the pressure was at its peak.
The National Performer of the Week poll will close at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, November 6, 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*
Kamari Ronfeldt, Ann Arbor Pioneer (Mich.): Unsurprisingly, Ann Arbor Pioneer dominated on both sides, with Ronfeldt leading the charge for the boys. Coming into the meet with a 6-1 record and a season best of 14:47.88, it was clear he would be a factor up front. Facing a field that included three other sub-15 finishers, Ronfeldt crossed the line two seconds ahead of Brandon Cloud (Northville), helping the Pioneers secure a runner-up finish in the team standings.
Calvin Seitz, Springs Valley (Ind.): Could you ask for a more thrilling way to close out a season? At the Indiana State Championships, Seitz edged Noah Bontrager (Westview) in one of the closest finishes in meet history, 15:01.22 to 15:01.24. Beyond the win itself, Seitz also became the first Springs Valley runner ever to finish inside the top ten. He now sits No. 22 all-time in meet history, and No. 6 all-time amongst juniors.
Kellen Williams, Jesuit (Ore.): On a successful business trip to the 6A-2 Metro League Championships, Williams defended his 2024 title with ease, clocking 14:47.97 as he led his Jesuit squad to a dominant 1-2-4-5-6-7 finish. The senior has broken 15:00 three times this season, and his latest effort ranks as his second-fastest ever, just behind the 14:28.1 he ran at The Mook XC Invite at Alderbrook earlier this fall. Williams remains one of Oregon's top athletes and a strong contender heading into the state meet in Eugene this weekend.
Jack McGovern, Rockhurst (Mo.): Despite stepping into a new role after a heavy graduation hit last spring, the sophomore has handled the transition with ease, recently capturing his first district title. McGovern cruised to a 14:51.93 finish, marking his second sub-15 performance in the past five weeks. He enters the state meet as one of the top favorites and will look to keep the title in-house for another year.
Domenic San Miguel, Canyon (Texas): It was a weekend full of razor-thin margins, as the junior charged down the homestretch alongside Armando Morales (La Feria). The two crossed nearly together in 15:08.5 and 15:08.3, with San Miguel having just enough to claim the title. His win capped an electric finish and a dominant team effort, as Canyon captured its fourth consecutive state championship, defeating Big Spring 48 to 108.
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.)
Week 7: Jackson Free, Mountain Home (Ark.)
Week 8: Cohen Butler, Camas (Wash.)
Week 9: Aidan Antonio, Woodbridge (Calif.)