Quick Hits - More Top Performances from the Weekend
---
Joe Barrett, Christian Brothers Academy (N.J.): One of the top returners in the country continued his winning ways, winning his second race of the season, and he did so in near record-breaking fashion. At the Bowdoin XC Classic, Barrett ran 15:25.5 for 5k, just seven seconds shy of DJ Principe's sought-after course record of 15:18. Barrett's win came in very dominant fashion, with 34 seconds between him and the runner-up.
Addy Ritzenhein, Niwot (Col.): The defending Gatorade Runner of the Year and NXN national champion is officially back and quite literally better than ever following her big win at the Desert Twilight in Gilbert, Ariz. The junior simply annihilated the field, running away with a 39-second victory as she clocked a new PB of 16:41.3. Ritzenhein also led Niwot to the team title over Highland (Ariz.), 80-123. With her latest win, she also keeps her undefeated season alive and well.
Charlie Vause, Rio Rancho (N.M.): Back-to-back weeks and back-to-back wins sum up Vause's season up to this point, as the New Mexico senior has yet to lose in his final year. At the Desert Twilight, Vause clocked 14:42.2, the second-fastest time ever ran by a New Mexico high schooler. Vause also helped his Ram squad finish runner-up as a team, less than 50 points back of nationally-ranked Niwot (Colo.)
Lilly Beshears, Rogers (Ark.): Make that win No. 2 on the year, and easily the most impressive of her prep career. Beshears took her talents about 40 minutes south to the Chile Pepper XC Festival. Winning by 33 seconds, the junior shattered the meet record, becoming the first girl under 17:00 in 16:40.4
Tsadia Bercuvitz, Ithaca (NY): The sophomore took down another Course Record, this time at the McQuaid Invitational. Bettering marks by now-Pro Athletes Jess Lawson and Molly Huddle, the debut season of Bercuvitz continues to impress.
Helen Sachs, Holland West Ottawa (Mich.): Picking up her fifth win in as many races, the Michigan standout is a girl on a mission, having already run sub-17 three times. Her most recent win came in dominant fashion, running 16:52.77 to win the Otsego Bulldog Invitational by 32 seconds. Sachs' time is her fastest of the year, and her fastest time since November of 2022.
Corbin Coombs, Organ Mountain (N.M.): The senior set a new National #1 time for the 5K, running a time of 14:30.50 at the Organ Mountain Rob Winter Classic where he and his teammate Jeron Wisner both demolished the rest of the field. He is now undefeated in the 5K on the season and has improved his 5K PR by a minute from 2023.
Ayuub Hassan, CO Northfield (Colo.): The star freshman for Northfield keeps getting better and better and after an 8th place finish at the Desert Twilight meet with a time of 15:03.30, he ranks 7th all time nationally for freshman boys times for the 5K.