* Macy Wingard won the Girls 6A title at the UIL Championships
Photo Credit: Chris Langford/Texas MileSplit
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An exciting slate of state championships highlighted November's first weekend of cross-country racing, as athletes far and wide took care of business before shutting their focus on the upcoming national high school postseason.
The National Performer of the Week poll will close at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, November 7, 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:
Sophia Rodriguez, Mercer Island (Wash.): The wins just keep piling in for the young Washingtonian, as Rodriguez picked up her sixth win of the year, and notched her second sub-17 performance of the year. The sophomore defended her SeaKing District title last Thursday, leading her Islander teammates to a team title over Bishop Blanchett (Wash.), 62-81. Rodriguez is the second-fastest girl in the state so far this season and has already moved up to No. 6 in Washington history.
Katelyn Rupe, Salina Central (Kan.): For the third straight year, the North Carolina-bound star is the KSHSAA 5A state champion. Rupe took down previously undefeated Ryin Miller of Topeka-Seaman (Kan.) before the rain came down, running 17:09.77 for a 17-second win. Rupe also ran the fastest time in Rim Rock Farm history, becoming the first-ever girl to run under 17:10. Rupe is looking to punch her ticket to Nike Cross Nationals once again this Saturday, as the defending NXR Heartland runner-up.
Jane Hedengren, Timpview (Utah): Another year, another Jane Hedengren state title! In her final cross-country race on Utah soil, the senior picked up the ninth state title of her prep career, and her third consecutive title on the grass. The future BYU Cougar needed just 16:21.5 to make her way throughout the 3 Mile course, winning by over a minute ahead of teammate Lily Alder. Hedengren also led Timpview to their second-straight 5A team title, taking down Box Elder (Utah), 72-132.
Addison Ritzenhein, Niwot (Colo.): Make that a perfect in-state season for the reigning NXN champ and National Gatorade Runner of the Year! Ritzenhein defended her Colorado 5A title with ease, crossing in 16:54.62, 27 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. The junior has not lost a cross-country race since her third-place finish at NXR Southwest last November, and she'll have a chance to avenge that performance in a few weeks in Arizona. Ritzenhein is the second-fastest girl in Colorado this season, but the only one to break 17:20 since the second week of September.
Macy Wingard, Denton-Braswell (Texas): Although she didn't need to prove anything, Wingard reminded everybody why she is the top 6A runner in the state, and one of the best runners throughout all classes. The junior went back-to-back in Round Rock, Texas over the weekend, clocking 17:07.9, the fastest time by any Texan at the UIL Championships. Wingard won by 25. seconds, leaving nothing up to chance. As one of the top returners in the NXR South Regional, Wingard's next test is getting back to NXN.
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.)
Week 4: Lilly Beshears, Rogers (Ark.)
Week 5: Kate Loescher, Colonial Forge (Va.)
Week 6: Gabbie Bishop, Providence Academy (Ark.)
Week 7: Victoria Garces, Midland Dow (Mich.)
Week 8: Marissa Ferebee, Pella (Iowa)