* Lauren Lewis (left) won this week's NPOTW poll; Karrie Baloga (right) is a nominee for this week's performer of the week
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Throughout the season, Lauren Lewis of Prosper (TX) dropped nation-leading performances in the 400m. Going into the UIL 6A District 5 Championships, Lewis ran a US No. 1 performance of 52.19 two weeks ago and at the time, she was the only girl to dip under 53 seconds in the quarter.
Lewis proved she wasn't done setting new personal bests.
At the UIL Area Championships last weekend, Lewis crossed the finish line in Coppell, Texas with a 51.83 to shatter her previous nation-leading time and set a new Area record. The previous record of 51.96 was recorded nearly 20 years ago when Fort Bend Marshall's Brandi Cross clocked that winning performance.
The Texas recruit earned 33 percent of the votes to be named this week's National Girls Performer Of The Week.
From now until the end of the outdoor track season, winners will be awarded National Athlete Of The Week backpacks courtesy of TrackBarn. If selected as National Girls Performer Of The Week, please send mailing addresses to olivia.ekpone@flosports.tv to receive your bag.
It's time to vote for this week's NPOTW. The poll will end on Friday and winners will be announced the following Monday.
Here are the nominations for the National Girls Performer Of The Week Poll:
Adaejah Hodge, Montverde Academy (FL): Hodge showcased her consistency in the sprints this spring as she clocked her second sub-11.20 performance in the 100m. At the Texas Tech Corky Crofoot Shootout, the junior ran the fastest time in the nation so far this season with an 11.11 (+1.7). She also won the 200m in 22.31 (+5.0).
Shawnti Jackson, South Granville (NC): At the Penn Relays Carnival presented by Toyota, the Arkansas signee sprinted to victory in the 200m amongst a professional field with a 23.11 (-1.7). Jackson is now the third-fastest girl in this event this spring.
Oluwatosin Awoleye, South Cobb (GA): Awoleye ran 2:07.43 to win the GHSA 6A-Region 4 title and is now US No. 7 in the 800m.
Karrie Baloga, Cornwall (NY): Over the weekend at the Penn Relays Carnival presented by Toyota, Baloga won the 3K title with a 9:20.75. Looking at the all-time list, Baloga climbed to the No. 13 spot.
Michelle Smith, Montverde Academy (FL): The junior won the Texas Tech Corky Crofoot Shootout 400mH title against collegians with a new personal best, US No. 1 and a No. 6 all-time performance of 56.66. She's the only high school girl to go sub-58 seconds this year.
Alencia Lentz, Comal Canyon Lake (TX): Lentz became the sixth girl this outdoor season to clear over 14-1 in the pole vault. At the UIL 4A Region IV, the Baylor recruit cleared 14-2 for a new personal best and a US No. 4 jump.
Sophia Beckmon, Oregon City (OR): The University of Illinois commit leaped 22-4 (+0.0) to win the Nike/Jesuit Twilight Relays. This US No. 1 jump puts her No. 2 all-time in the history books and she's just one inch off Kate Hall's national high school record.
Jordan Alston, Monument Mountain Regional (MA): The freshman threw 175-6.75 at the Berkshire Distance Carnival in the javelin. This performance breaks the freshman class record and ranks No. 8 all-time in this event.
NPOTW Outdoor Season Winners:
- Week 1: Kennedy Jacquet, Humble Atascocita (TX)
- Week 2: Rylee Hampton, Houston Cypress Ridge (TX)
- Week 3: Hana Moll, Capital (WA)
- Week 4: Myla Greene, Bullis School (MD)
- Week 5: Lauren Lewis, Prosper (TX)
NPOTW Indoor Season Winners:
- Week 1: Cady McPhail, Chelsea (AL)
- Week 2: Tyler Glover, Ardery Kell (NC)
- Week 3: Sophia Gorriaran, Moses Brown School (RI)
- Week 4: Taylor Cox, Union Catholic (NJ)
- Week 5: Cady McPhail, Chelsea (AL)
- Week 6: Shawnti Jackson, South Granville (NC)
- Week 7: Kennedy Flynn, The Bullis School (MD)
- Week 8: Karrie Baloga, Cornwall (NY)
- Week 9: Cady McPhail, Chelsea (AL)
- Week 10: Mia Brahe-Pedersen, Lake Oswego (OR)
- Week 11: Hana Moll, Capital (WA)
- Week 12: Brianna Selby, Indian River (VA)
- Week 13: Akala Garrett, Albemarle (NC)
- Week 14: Adaejah Hodge, Montverde Academy (FL)
- Week 15: Veronica Vacca, Mount Saint Joseph Academy (PA)