* Akala Garrett (left) won this week's NPOTW poll; Angelina Napoleon (right) is a nominee for this week's Performer Of The Week
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In Akala Garrett's final NCHSAA 1A State Championship, the Texas recruit made history.
In the 300mH, the World U20 champion earned the victory with a 40.26. This performance shattered the overall North Carolina state record and became the seventh-fastest performance in US high school history.
During the championships, Garrett also earned victories in the 100mH (13.52), 200m (24.25) and anchored Albemarle to the 4x400m title.
Throughout the week, Garrett solidified being named this week's National Girls Performer Of The Week with 78 percent of the votes.
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:
Mia Brahe-Pedersen, Lake Oswego (OR): At the OSAA 6A State Championships, the junior sprinted to two state meet records. In the process, she lowered her US No. 1 time in the 100m by clocking the No. 3 all-time performance in high school history with an 11.00 (+1.5). Brahe-Pedersen also sprinted to the 200m title in 22.65 (-0.1).
Gretchen Farley, Park Tudor (IN): The Notre Dame recruit clocked a US No. 5 time of 2:05.88 in the 800m at the IHSAA Girls Track and Field Regional meet to punch her ticket to states.
Sadie Engelhardt, Ventura (CA): The sophomore sensation made history at the CIF Outdoor Championships. She won the 1,600m title in a CIF state meet record and lowered her US No. 1 time by three seconds as she clocked 4:33.45. Later on Saturday, she faced the fastest girl in the nation in the 800m and was able to secure the victory with a 2:07.22. Engelhardt became the second girl in CIF state meet history to win the 800m-1,600m double since Kathy Costello of Pleasant Hill accomplished this feat back in 1975.
Nicki Southerland, Delta (IN): At the RunningLane Track Championships, the junior won the mile title in 4:45.02, which is the nation's sixth-fastest performance this season.
Angelina Napoleon, Alleghany-Limestone (NY): In her third 2K steeplechase race of the 2023 season, Napoleon won the Section 6 Class C Championships in a record-breaking performance of 6:19.75. She became the first girl in US high school history to dip under 6:20 in this event. The NC State recruit also won titles in the 800m, 3K and high jump.
Camden Bentley, Gah. Lincoln (OH): The Kentucky signee earned the 100mH title at the OHSAA Region 3 meet with a wind-legal 13.31 (+0.4). Her short hurdle performance equals the fifth-fastest time in the nation this year. Bentley also won the 300mH in a new personal best of 42.00.
Evelyn Bliss, Union-Allegheny Clarion Val (PA): In the girls PIAA 2A State Championships, Bliss unleashed a new meet record, Pennsylvania No. 3 all-time throw and earned a state championship title with a 170-02 in the javelin. For Bliss, this was a 15-foot improvement from her previous best from the PIAA District 9 Championship.
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)
- Week 6: Karrie Baloga, Cornwall (NY)
- Week 7: Jessica Secor, Dupont Manuel (KY)
- Week 8: Victoria Cameron, Stephenville (TX)
- Week 9: Akala Garrett, Albemarle (NC)
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)