* Ryin Miller was the fastest girl in the country this last weekend, becoming the fourth girl to break 17:00 this season
Photo Credit: Maxx Bradley/MileSplit
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After a few weeks of off-and-on early-season competition, the 2024 cross-country season is underway for nearly everyone.
Though there were strong performances all over the country, the Midwest and East Coast stole the show with their stellar early-season performances.
The National Performer of the Week poll will close at 1 p.m. CT on Thursday, Sept. 12, and the winner will be announced shortly after.
Check out five of the top performances from this last weekend of cross-country action!
This Week's Nominees:
Ryin Miller, Seaman (Topeka, Kan.): After a breakthrough sophomore season on the track, Miller is off to a fast start this fall, currently just the fourth girl to run under 17:00 this season, following her 25 second personal best time of 16:59. Miller is now just the fourth Kansas girl to ever break the 17-minute barrier. Miller is set to race at the Joe Schrag Invite, on a course where she had run her previous personal best of 17:24.
Izzie Sullivan, Fayetteville-Manlius (N.Y.): The Hornet senior opened up her final high school cross country season at the Mustang Invitational, winning by 53 seconds in 17:36. Sullivan and company won the team title over North Syracuse (NY) 37-56. Sullivan's big performance moved her up to No. 15 in New York's storied record books.
Daniela Scheffler, Lake (Uniontown, Ohio): The tenth-fastest girl in Ohio history won her second race of the year, winning the Wooster XC Invitational in 17:09.09, a 16-second improvement on her personal best. The senior has one of the fastest times in the country this year and is the fastest girl in Ohio this season.
Katelyn Rupe, Salina Central (Kan.): Make that 15 in-state wins in a row for the two-time defending champ. At the Great Bend Invitational, Rupe ran 17:14.86, another course record to add to her incredible resume. At the time, it was the fastest time in the state this season and was the third fastest time of her career. This Saturday, Rupe will travel to northeast Kansas for a fast race at Olathe Twilight. Rupe could join Kansas royalty with a sub-17 performance, and she's more than capable.
Ruby Ihmels, Century (Bismarck, N.D.): The North Dakota sophomore has already picked up three wins, most recently the Williston Chamberlain Invite. Ihmels dropped the field and pulled away for a dominant win in 17:13.86, winning by a minute and 45 seconds. Ihmels now sits No. 4 all-time in Idaho, just 20 seconds shy of the state record. Ihmels won the state title a year ago in 18:08.86