*Lisa Raye won the 60m/200m double at the New York International Showcase
Photo: Joe Swift/MileSplit New York
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January's final weekend of racing was a big one, as historic performances were produced around the country. While some shined against the best of the best in New York, others took care of business at smaller-scale meets in North Carolina and Texas.
The National Performer of the Week poll will close at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, January 30, 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:
Lisa Raye, West Warwick (R.I.): Since the first week of December, Raye has been on an absolute tear, tallying just three losses so far this season. To put that into perspective, Raye has competed over 20 times across six different events, earning four PBs during the stretch. Her latest endeavor was a trip to 'The Big Apple' for the New York International Showcase, where she took of America and Jamaica's finest in the 60m and 200m. In typical fashion, the Georgia commit won both events, running 7.24 and 23.45 in both events, respectively. The senior ranks No. 1 and No. 4 in the 60m and 200m this season, with a lot of time to move up.
Brooke Lloyd, H-Town Hurricanes (Texas): Down at the Texas Tech Wes Kittley High School Invitational, Lloyd was one of the many athletes to have superb days as she clocked 53.45 for 400m, a new U.S. No. 1. After running 56.04 in the prelim, the junior took control in the final as she built a two-second lead on the field by the time she crossed the line. Last year, Lloyd didn't break 55 seconds during the indoor season but is well ahead of schedule after her dominant showing. As it stands, she is the second-fastest junior in Texas history and the fifth-fastest regardless of class.
Sophia McInnes, Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.): The future Villanova Wildcat stuck to her winning ways at the Dr. Sander Scorcher, winning the 1000m in 2:45.61, lowering her national lead in the process. The senior won by three seconds over a field of 12, leading six other girls under 2:50. McInnes' win marked her eighth in nine races, with five of those coming in the form of PBs. In New York history, McInnes is the second-fastest girl over 1k, trailing just Sammy Watson (Rush Henrietta Sperry). For now, McInnes sits No. 12 in the U.S. record books.
Samantha Ennin, North Texas Jackrabbits (Texas): If there were people still unsure about who the top horizontal jumper in the nation was, the Stanford commit made her case over the weekend at the Texas Tech Wes Kittley High School Invitational. Ennin picked up a pair of wins in the long and triple jump, leaping to marks of 20-4.5 and 42-2.75 (PB), respectively. Her performance in the triple jump propelled her into a tie for the national lead, becoming just the second girl this year to break the 42-0 barrier. Ennin already led the nation in the long jump with a mark of 21-1.25. On Texas' all-time lists, Ennin sits No. 2 and No. 6 in the long and triple jump.
Hannah Rae Shaffer, Cardinal Gibbons (N.C.): Is there any better way to open up your season than by running your fastest 3200m in a year and a half? I can imagine that the North Carolina-bound senior would say there is not! At the Governor's Classic in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Shaffer clocked 10:30.3 as she picked up the win, pulling away from the field by over 15 seconds. She also broke her meet record by 21 seconds and is now the fifth-fastest in state history. She currently sits at No. 1 on the national leaderboard. Shaffer is also set to be the top returner at the NCHSAA State Championship next month after finishing runner-up in 2024.
NPOTW's Previous Winners:
Week 1: Megan Ewers, Medgar Evers College Prep (N.Y.)
Week 2: Mia Maxwell, APXP Speed Development (Texas)