* Riku Sugie won a pair of state titles over the weekend
Photo: Kelly Crume/MileSplit Kentucky
- - -
The final slate of competition before national championship weekend was exciting, as titles were won and records were broken.
The National Performer of the Week poll will close at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 13, and the winner will be announced shortly after.
Take a look at five of the top-performing boys from last weekend.
Riku Sugie, Thomas Nelson (Ky.): Double gold was the name of the game for the Notre Dame signee at the KHSAA Indoor State Championships. Sugie picked up his 12th and 13th state titles in dominant fashion. The senior ran a pair of PBs, clocking 1:53.58 and 4:09.88, respectively. Sugie is the fastest all-time in Kentucky history over 1600m.
Jordan Gross, Butler (Pa.): Before he heads to Marshall this fall, Gross adds a few more state titles to his long list of accolades. At the OATCCC D2 Indoor State Meet, Gross ran 6.86 in his runner-up finish in the 60m and 21.53 to win the 200m title. Heading into the outdoor season, Cross sits No. 6 and No. 2 in the 60m and 200m, respectively.
Grant Harrison, New Richmond (Ohio): There's no better place for a huge PB than the state championship; just ask the future Kentucky Wildcat. At the OATCCC D2 Indoor State Meet, Harrison cleared 17-0, matching his outdoor PB while smashing his former indoor best. Harrison is just the sixth athlete this season to clear 17-0.
Joe McDonald Jr., Kingston (N.Y.): The senior jumper capped off his 10-1 season in fashion, winning the title at the NYSPHSAA State Champs. McDonald Jr. jumped 24-0.02 to win the title by over three inches. The senior also jumped 6-6 in a third-place finish in the high jump,
Jase Burton, Star Valley (Wyo.): During a stellar senior campaign, Burton picked up two more state titles at the Wyoming Indoor 4A State Championships. The future BYU Cougar ran 4:12.01 and 9:04.64, respectively, winning by a combined 45 seconds. Burton sits No. 2 and No. 1 in both events in Wyoming's record books.
NPOTW's Previous Winners:
Week 1: Jeremiah Patton, Memphis Central (Tenn.)
Week 2: Jack Ouellette, Xavier (Conn.)
Week 3: Aiden Monistere, Parkview Baptist (La.)
Week 4: Ryan Buskey, Colonie (N.Y.)
Week 5: Ryan Dierenfield, Billings-Skyview (Mont.)
Week 6: Owen Kelley, Bentonville (Ark.)
Week 7: Tayvon Kitchen, Crater (Ore.)
Week 8: Nick Altheimer, Kitsap Fliers Track (Wash.)
Week 9: Corbin Coombs, Organ Mountain (N.M.)