* Libby Dowty (left) was this past week's NPOTW winner; Evelyn Prodoehl (right) is a nominee for this week's National Performer of the Week.

Photo Credit: MileSplit

- - -

Libby Dowty, fresh off a state championship win, collected this past week's National Performer of the Week.

The speedy sophomore from Indian Creek in Indiana cemented a new LaVern Gibson course record with her eighth win of the season at the Indiana State Cross Country Championships, running a new personal best of 17:06.70.

She shocked the crowd as she beat out the favored Senior Nicki Southerland by nine seconds.

Dowty collected 85-percent of the votes and was named this past week's National Performer of the Week.

It's time to vote for this week's NPOTW. The poll will end Friday and the winner will be announced next Monday.

Rachel Forsyth, Ann Arbor Pioneer (MI): Coming off of the top national 5K time last weekend at regionals, the senior didn't pump the brakes on Saturday at the MHSAA State Championships as she soared to a new soil record of 16:28.50. As the fastest girl in the country right now, her 45-second lead at the finish was nothing new. Forsyth is fast and her undefeated season shows that.

Elizabeth Leachman, Boerne Champion (TX): No surprise, the star-studded sophomore earned a 163 speed rating from her efforts this weekend at UIL State Championships. The end to nearly a perfect season, her first-place bid marked a new meet and course record of 16:25.50, a career best, and her first cross country state title. Leachman has certainly made massive strides from her 20th-place finish at state last year.

Macy Wingard, Denton Braswell (TX): Although only having run a handful of races for her sophomore season, Wingard learned that she liked to win and her four victories show that. Coming from 10th-place at the UIL Class 6A state championships her first year, she was ready to show what she was made of this weekend. A few strides behind San Juanita Leal for the majority of the race, Wingard broke away with the finish in sight, clocking her first sub-17 5k in 16:57 flat.

Evelyn Prodoehl, Lakota West (OH): Going a perfect 10-for-10 season thus far, the junior eased to a new Fortress Obertz course record this Saturday. Running 17:23.80 and holding a lead of 28 seconds, Prodoehl earned her first cross country State title, securing herself as the top runner in Ohio. 

Emily Wisniewski, Crescent Valley (OR): The Oregon phenom scored her third straight OSAA State cross country title this weekend, staining a new meet record from her bid last year. Wisniewski shaved off 53 seconds to stop the clock at 17:05.80. She earned a 156 speed rating for her efforts.

Paige Sheppard, Union Catholic Regional (NJ): Sheppard may be a newcomer in the high school running realm, but she certainly isn't new to winning. With accolades from AAU to USTAF Nationals to Nike, this freshman made her name known once more with her first NJSIAA XC State title this weekend. With her fourth win of the season at 18:09, she led the Union ladies to a team win of 27 points.

Olivia Pauly, St. John's Preparatory (MN): This Saturday at the MSHSL State meet was certainly a race to remember for this Minnesota senior. After staying with the pack in 23rd-place through the first mile -- 10 seconds behind the leading group -- Pauly hit the gas and by the second mile, she moved up to the lead. She held on to the pace as she toed the line at 18:20.50, eleven seconds ahead of the runner-up, scoring a season personal best.