* Addy Ritzenhein ran a PB en route to a big-time win at the Desert Twilight
Photo Credit: Tim McDonald/MileSplit Arizona
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Before we shift our focus onto the upcoming postseason, there were a ton of big-time meets scattered throughout the country over the weekend.
Whether it was under the lights at the Desert Twilight, or in the heat of the Arkansas sun, the nation's best didn't miss a beat, dropping elite performances everywhere.
The National Performer of the Week poll will close at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, Sept. 26, and the winner will be announced shortly after.
Take a look at five of the top-performing girls from last weekend.
This Week's Nominees:
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.
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. Beshears also helped Rogers to a team title, taking down Piedmont (Okla.) 97-106. Beshears now sits No. 5 in the nation, and fourth among juniors.
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. Following a track season that saw her set PB's in the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m, it's no surprise that the senior is running at such a high level this fall.
Macy Wingard, Denton-Braswell (Texas): Call her the queen of the South! Wingard took a trip up North over the weekend to a tough challenge, the Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The junior covered the 5k course in 18:02, comfortably winning by 15 seconds ahead of the runner-up. Wingard nearly became the first high school girl to ever run sub-18 on the course, stopping the clock at 18:02, a new meet and course record. The elite junior continues to make her case as to why she is a threat at the national level.
Maddie Carney, Caldera (Ore.): After a pair of runner-up finishes to open up her sophomore season, Carney obliterated her previous best, running 17:17 at Nike Portland XC. Not only did Carney knock 48 seconds off of her PB, but she also left Portland with the win, out-leaning Wenatchee's (Ore.) Kylah Madariaga. The duo crossed in 17:17.1 and 17:17.4, respectively. Carney's accolades don't stop there, as the sophomore also established a brand new course and meet record.
NPOTW's Previous Winners:
Week 1: Daniela Scheffler, Uniontown-Lake (Ohio)
Week 2: Paige Sheppard, Union Catholic (N.J.)
Week 3: Rylee Blade, Santiago Corona (Calif.)